IF and THEN

IF and THEN Clauses

•          Conditional sentences have at least two clauses: IF clauses and THEN clauses.

•          Examples:

If I go into town tomorrow, then I will see a movie.

If he spoke Chinese, then he would work as a guide in China.

If they had been faster, then they would have won the race.

         

         IF Clauses (the condition)

•          IF clauses present the condition.

•          Examples:

If I go into town tomorrow…

If he spoke Chinese…

If they had been faster…

                   

                                         THEN Clauses (the results)

•          THEN clauses present the results.

•          Examples:

 … then I will see a movie.

…. then he would work as a guide in China.

 … then they would have won the race.

      IF and THEN Clauses

•        The word “then” is optional, but the clause is still the result of the condition. So it is a “THEN” clause, without the word “then.”

•          There are special rules for leaving out the word “if”. We will learn them later.

Remember:

•          The four words that NEVER (well, almost never) appear in the IF clause are:

   will, won’t, would, wouldn’t

•          Example:

If  we will see it, we will be angry.