if-clause

if-clause — 名詞

1. the part of a sentence that begins with 'if' and states the condition under whic

1.名詞B2
釋義

if 子句

條件句中以 if 起頭的條件部分

the part of a sentence that begins with 'if' and states the condition under which the other part (the main clause) is true or will happen — for example, 'if it rains' in 'if it rains, the picnic will be cancelled'.

例句

Felix highlighted the if-clause in green so his students could spot the condition quickly.

Felix 把 if 子句用綠色標起來，讓學生能快速看出條件部分。

countable noun: highlighted the if-clause

An if-clause usually comes before the main clause, but it can also follow it in writing.

if 子句通常放在主要子句之前，但在書面寫作中也可以放在後面。

typical grammar-textbook framing of position

同義詞
  • conditional clause

    broader technical term; covers if-clauses plus other condition-marking clauses (unless, provided that)

  • protasis

    academic linguistics term for the condition half of a conditional sentence; rarely used outside formal study

反義詞
  • main clause

    the other half of a conditional sentence, stating the result

  • then-clause

    informal pairing term used in some grammar guides

用法筆記

Used almost exclusively in grammar teaching and language-learning materials. Often paired with 'main clause' or 'then-clause' to describe the two halves of a conditional sentence.

常見錯誤

❌In the if-clause we use will: if it will rain.
✅In the if-clause we use the present simple: if it rains.
💡the if-clause itself usually takes a present or past tense, not 'will'.