alternatives to if

​Alternatives to if in conditional sentences

as long as / provided (that) / providing (that) / on condition (that) / only if

  We can use the expressions as long as, provided/providing (that), on condition (that), or only if instead of if when we want to emphasize the condition that needs to be present so that something can happen or be done.

• I’ll tell you what really happened as long as you keep the secret.

• I’ll lend you the money provided (that) you pay me back next month.

• They will speak to the press on condition (that) they remain anonymous sources.

• We will invest the money, but only if you can prove that it’s a safe investment. 

​Alternatives to if in conditional sentences

as long as / provided (that) / providing (that) / on condition (that) / only if

  We can use the expressions as long as, provided/providing (that), on condition (that), or only if instead of if when we want to emphasize the condition that needs to be present so that something can happen or be done.

• I’ll tell you what really happened as long as you keep the secret.

• I’ll lend you the money provided (that) you pay me back next month.

• They will speak to the press on condition (that) they remain anonymous sources.

• We will invest the money, but only if you can prove that it’s a safe investment. 

  We use whether or not when there are two alternatives and we want to say that something will happen or will be true in any of those two alternatives. Compare:

• I’ll help him if he needs me. (=I will help him only if he needs me.)

• I’ll help him whether or not he needs me. (I will help him if he needs me, and I will help him if he doesn’t need me, too.)

even if

  We also use even if with a similar meaning to ‘whether or not’. It is used to emphasize that something will still be true or will happen if another thing happens.

• Even if you apologise, he’ll never forgive you. (=Whether or not you apologise, he’ll never forgive you.)

suppose / supposing

  We normally use suppose or supposing at the beginning of a sentence to make someone imagine a situation. It means ‘what would happen if’, or simply ‘if’ (imagining a situation).

• Supposing I got a job, I wouldn’t be able to travel with you next summer.

• Suppose she doesn’t believe you, what would you do then?

​Or and otherwise

We often use or and otherwise with conditional meanings:

You’ve got to start studying, or you’ll fail all those exams. (If you don’t start studying, you will fail the exams.)

[talking about sending a package by mail]

We’d better send it express, otherwise it’ll take days. (If we do not send it express, it will take days.)

Unless

Conditional clauses can begin with unless. Unless means something similar to ‘if … not’ or ‘except if’.

The verb forms in the examples are similar to sentences with if: we use the present simple in the unless-clause and shall, should, will, would, can, could, may or might in the main clause:

Unless I phone you, you can assume the train’s on time. (If I do not phone you /except if I phone you, you can assume the train is on time.)

We’ll have to cancel the show unless we sell more tickets at the last minute. (We’ll have to cancel the show if we do not sell more tickets/except if we sell more tickets at the last minute.)​

In formal situations, we can use should + subject (s) + verb (v) instead of if:

Should you wish to cancel your order, please contact our customer service department on 02317 6658932. (or If you should wish to cancel your order …)

Should your child become anxious or nervous about any activity, it is a good idea to inform the team-leader. (or If your child should become …)

Had you (Had with inversion)

In formal situations, we can use had + subject + verb instead of if in third conditional sentences:

Had I known you were waiting outside, I would have invited you to come in. (If I had known you were waiting outside …)

Had Margaret realised she would be travelling alone, she would never have agreed to go.

If + were to

In formal situations, we can use if + were to when we talk about things that might happen but which we think are unlikely:

If the Prime Minister were to resign, there would have to be a general election within 30 days.

In even more formal styles, we use were + subject-verb inversion + to-infinitive:

[V]Were [S]we [to -INF]to give up the fight now, it would mean the end of democracy in our country. (If we gave up the fight now …)

[V]Were [S]the economy [to -INF]to slow down too quickly, there would be major problems. (If the economy slowed down too quickly …)