Different Uses of “If”

Image by National Library NZ on The Commons via Flickr

1. If we don’t pay that ticket, then I will have to go to court. [causal]
2. It would be great if everyone just got along. [idealistic]
3. I wonder if she knows she has jelly all over her silk blouse? [oblique]
4. This kind of mustard, if it can even be called mustard, makes me sick.[aside/exception/dismissive/doubt]
5. We can keep talking, if you want. [permission]
6. If you don’t shut up, we are splitting up. [threat conditional]
7. If everyone is doing it, I might as well do it too. [since causal]
8. If you’re not shutting up, well, I guess we are splitting up. [since/continuing conditional]
9. Sounds iffy to me. [uncertainty]
10. We have to consider the “what ifs?” in order to do our jobs properly. [full NP uncertainty construction]
11. We have to consider the “what ifs?” if we want to succeed. [conditional]
12. Treat everyone with kindness, if not respect. [restrictive]
13. If you must. [concession]
14. If only. [implausibility]
15. As if. [sarcastic implausibility]
16. If he was an ogre, at least he was kind. [factual]