'if' ~ adjective clauses

Question

Usually 'if'-adverb clauses have 'present verb' instead of future auxiliary 'will,'. However, I often see 'if ' adverb clauses that have 'will'. I'd like to know when and why 'if' adverb clauses have 'will'. I'd like you to take some examples.

Thank you so much in advance. ^^

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

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Philip · Answer

Bright_sun17Usually 'if'-adverb clauses have 'present verb' instead of future auxiliary 'will,'. However, I often see 'if ' adverb clauses that have 'will'. I'd like to know when and why 'if' adverb clauses have 'will'. I'd like you to take some examples.

Thank you so much in advance. ^^

Welcome to the Forum! It is difficult for us to answer vague questions, so examples from you are always helpful.

Bright_sun17 · Answer

It is gramatically right that If-adverb clauses have 'present verb' instead of future auxiliary 'will,'. like this.

If it rains tomorrow, we won't go on a picnic. ( o )

If it will rain tomorrow, we won't go on a picnic. ( x )

However, I often see 'if ' adverb clauses that have 'will'.

for example,

I shall be glad to go, if you will accompany me.

I'd like to know when and why 'if' adverb clauses have 'will'. I'd like you to take some more examples.

Thank you so much in advance. ^^

Tanit · Answer

Hi,

"I shall be glad to go, if you will accompany me." => This use of if + will is common in polite requests. Will does not express conditional meaning, but volition. Think of "If you will" here as "If you are kind enough to," "If you are willing to," "If you want to."
Opposite to that, if 't expresses refusal: If you won't be in your office tomorrow, you'll get fired.

Some other examples in which you can use if+will.

to show insistence-bad habits-stubborness ...: If she will eat so many sweets, she'll get fat ==> If she keeps eating so many sweets ... (see this thread)
in indirect questions ...: I don't know if she will be ready. She's always late. (I might be wrong, but it seems to me that "if" here should be considered linked to "know" and not to "will")

There are also other circumstances in which you can use "if + will" and "if + won't" (to express that something happens as a result of a future action, or as a paraphrase of "if it is true that ... then"). For a thourough discussion, have a look at CJ's post here (you'll also find many examples!).

PS: I probably shouldn't have answered, but I also wanted to check my understanding of "if + will". I'll be glad if somebody points out any mistakes I've made!

MrPedantic · Answer

I would agree with Tanit: a "will" in an if-clause often implies volition.

In this example:

I don't know if she will be ready. She's always late. (I might be wrong, but it seems to me that "if" here should be considered linked to "know" and not to "will")

— I would take "if" as equivalent to "whether". When "if" = "whether", the usual conditional forms do not necessarily apply.

Some textbooks and websites promote the idea that there are three (or four) "types" of if-statement, and present "rules" to that effect (e.g. "If you go, I'll go too" might be presented as a "type I" conditional).

These "rules" can be useful; but it should be remembered that they apply mostly to "cause and effect" situations, and that if-clauses may turn up in other situations too (as Tanit has demonstrated).

Best wishes,

MrP

Marius Hancu · Answer

It is gramatically right that If-adverb clauses have 'present verb' instead of future auxiliary 'will,'. like this.

If it rains tomorrow, we won't go on a picnic. ( o ) Yes, it's correct, it's called tense simplification: replacing the future in subordinates by present (see Swan, Practical English Usage).

Anonymous · Answer

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'if' ~ adjective clauses

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