7. Conjunctions that can sometimes be used in place of ‘if’

Conditionals can also be introduced by the following conjunctions, which do not always have precisely the same meaning as if: as long as, assuming (that), even if, if only, on (the) condition (that), in case, provided/providing (that), so long as and unless; also suppose (that) and supposing (that), which normally introduce questions [10; 124]:

He’ll definitely win, even if (навіть якщо) he falls over.

They'll lend us their flat on (the) condition (that) (за умови, що) we look after it.

Suppose/Supposing (that) (припустимо, що) we miss the train what shall we do?

In case (“у випадку, якщо”) is used to show possible actions in the future:

I’ll cook plenty of potatoes in case they decide to stay for dinner.

In case they are late, we can always stay in the bar.

We’ll take some more warm clothes on holiday in case the weather changes.

In case is also used to show that somebody did something in the past:

They prepared more vegetables in case there were vegetarians among the guests.

Unless (“якщо тільки не”, “якщо… не”, “хіба”, “окрім як”) is equal to if… not:

Unless the government agrees to give extra money, the theatre will have to close.

We’ll be late unless we leave now.

As long as, provided (that), providing (that) mean “якщо”, “хіба”, “поки”, “доки”:

Providing/Provided (that) (or So/As long as) you clear your desk

by this evening, you can have tomorrow off.

Provided (that) there is no opposition, we shall hold the meeting here.

What if and Say can be used in the sense of 'Let us suppose': What if/Say he gets home before us and can't get in? What will he do?

What if/Say you were to run out of money⁷ What would you do?

We can abbreviate a condition if we begin a new sentence with If so, In that case, or If not; or if we continue with in which case: He may be busy, in which case I'll call later He may be busy. If so, (In that case,) I’ll call later. If not, can I see him now⁷

Whether or not introduces 'alternative' conditionals [6; 290]:

Whether I feel well or not on Monday, I’m going back to work Whether or not I feel well on Monday, I'm going back to work You'll have to put up with it, whether you like it or not

8. Implied conditionals

An implied condition is not openly stated in a clause, but is suggested either by an adverbial part of the sentence, or else by the context – from the preceding or following sentence, or coordinated clause [3; 91]. Conditionals can be implied (i.e. not directly introduced by if) in a variety of ways, e.g.:

With luck, we'll be there by tomorrow (= if we're lucky).

Given time, they’II probably agree (= if we give them time). To hear him talk, you’d think he was Prime Minister (= if you could hear him talk).

/ would write to her but I don't know her address (= if I knew her address).

But for his pension, he would starve (= if he didn't have).

Except for the sound of his breathing, I wouldn’t have known he was there (=If I hadn’t heard). Without your help, I couldn’t have done it (= if you hadn't helped).

In different circumstances, I would have said yes (= if circumstances had been different).

I would have gone too, but I was tied up to Joseph. (If I hadn’t been tied up to Joseph, I would have gone too) [6; 290].