Unit 18: Different ways of saying 'if'
How to say 'if' without using 'if'
Select a unit
- 1 Go beyond intermediate with our new video course
- 2 Reported speech in 90 seconds!
- 3 If or whether?
- 4 5 ways to use 'would'
- 5 Let and allow
- 6 Passive voice
- 7 Unless
- 8 Mixed conditionals
- 9 The zero article - in 90 seconds
- 10 The indefinite article - in 90 seconds
- 11 The. That's right - the! Learn all about it in 90 seconds
- 12 The continuous passive
- 13 Future perfect
- 14 Need + verb-ing
- 15 Have something done
- 16 Wish
- 17 Word stress
- 18 Different ways of saying 'if'
- 19 Passive reporting structures
- 20 The subjunctive
- 21 When and if
- 22 Inversion
- 23 Phrasal verbs
- 24 The future
- 25 Modals in the past
- 26 Narrative tenses
- 27 Phrasal verb myths
- 28 Conditionals review
- 29 Used to - review
- 30 Linking words of contrast
Session 1
There are many different expressions that have the same or similar meaning to 'if'. Dan gives us five different options in this video. Can he get through them all in 90 Seconds?
Activity 1
BBC English Class
Different ways of saying 'if'
'If' is a word that is often used to introduce conditional sentences. It's not the only way though. In 90 seconds Dan demonstrates five different expressions that have the same or similar meaning to 'if'.
Watch the video and complete the activity
Hi guys, Dan from BBC Learning English here. In this lesson we’re going to look at five ways of saying ‘if’, without saying ‘if’. If you’re ready to begin, let’s get going. 90 seconds on the clock. Here we go.
Now, I’m reminded of a conversation that I had with a friend of mine. He said to me:
“If we go on holiday, shall we go to Europe?”
“Mmm,” I said, “as long as we go somewhere hot, I don’t mind.”
As long as is our first way of saying ‘if’. It means ‘if and only if’. He said:
“Aah, somewhere hot? Suppose we go to America, would you like that?”
Mmm. Suppose is our second way of saying‘if’. Unlike the other forms that we’re going to talk about today, suppose is usually used in two sentences. “Suppose we go to America, “ and then followed by a question, “would you like that?” Got it? Good.
I said to him:
“Listen, unless I get a tan, I’ll be really unhappy.”
Unless is our third way of saying ‘if’. It means ‘if not’ or ‘except if.’ And for more information about it you can find out in our previous lesson.
He said to me:
“Well, providing you sunbathe a lot, you’ll definitively get a tan.”
Providing is our fourth way of saying ‘if’. It also means ‘if’. A more formal version of providing is provided.
So I said to him:
“OK. On the condition that I get time off from work, we’ll go to America.”
On the condition is our fifth and final way of saying ‘if’. It’s extremely formal and mostly used in written forms so perfect for business letters.
I just made it. Can you believe it?
Now guys, for more information about this, just go to bbclearningenglish.com. I’ve been Dan, you’ve been fantastic and I’m out of here. Hope to see you soon. Bye.
Summary
As long as = Only if
- As long as we go somewhere hot.
Suppose + question clause = How about if ...
Note: Use this when making a suggestion.
- Suppose we go to America, will that be hot enough?
Unless = If ... not
- Unless I get the time off work, I won't be able to go.
Providing/provided = If
Note: Provided is more formal than providing but has the same meaning.
- Providing I get the time off work, I'll go.
On the condition that = If
Note: this is very formal and mostly used in writing.
- On the condition that you pay me extra, I'll work over the holiday.
To do
Practise these different forms in the quiz.
'if' without 'if' quiz
5 Questions
In each question there is a sentence with 'if'. Choose the option without 'if' that is closest in meaning. In some cases more than one answer may be grammatically possible. You will need to decide which is most appropriate.
Help
Activity
In each question there is a sentence with 'if'. Choose the option without 'if' that is closest in meaning. In some cases more than one answer may be grammatically possible. You will need to decide which is most appropriate.
Hint
Which of the five alternative ways to say 'if' does this most closely fit?Question 1 of 5
Help
Activity
In each question there is a sentence with 'if'. Choose the option without 'if' that is closest in meaning. In some cases more than one answer may be grammatically possible. You will need to decide which is most appropriate.
Hint
Which of the five alternative ways to say 'if' does this most closely fit?Question 2 of 5
Help
Activity
In each question there is a sentence with 'if'. Choose the option without 'if' that is closest in meaning. In some cases more than one answer may be grammatically possible. You will need to decide which is most appropriate.
Hint
Which of the five alternative ways to say 'if' does this most closely fit?Question 3 of 5
Help
Activity
In each question there is a sentence with 'if'. Choose the option without 'if' that is closest in meaning. In some cases more than one answer may be grammatically possible. You will need to decide which is most appropriate.
Hint
Which of the five alternative ways to say 'if' does this most closely fit?Question 4 of 5
Help
Activity
In each question there is a sentence with 'if'. Choose the option without 'if' that is closest in meaning. In some cases more than one answer may be grammatically possible. You will need to decide which is most appropriate.
Hint
Which of the five alternative ways to say 'if' does this most closely fit?Question 5 of 5
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Vocabulary from the news in News Review.
Session Grammar
Other ways to say 'if'
As long as = Only if
As long as we go somewhere hot.
Suppose + question clause = How about if ...
Suppose we go to America, will that be hot enough?
Unless = If ... not
Unless I get the time off work, I won't be able to go.
Providing/provided = If, Only if
Providing I get the time off work, I'll go.
On the condition that = If
On the condition that you pay me extra, I'll work over the holiday.