What is the difference between 'if' and 'when' in conditional clauses?

Conditional Clauses Questions Medium



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What is the difference between 'if' and 'when' in conditional clauses?

The difference between 'if' and 'when' in conditional clauses lies in the certainty or likelihood of the condition being fulfilled.

'If' is used to express a condition that may or may not happen, indicating a hypothetical or uncertain situation. It suggests that the outcome of the condition is not guaranteed and can vary depending on the circumstances. For example, "If it rains, we will stay indoors." This implies that there is a possibility of rain, but it is not certain.

On the other hand, 'when' is used to express a condition that is expected or certain to happen. It indicates that the outcome of the condition is guaranteed and will definitely occur at some point in the future. For example, "When the sun rises, the birds start singing." This implies that the sun rising is a regular occurrence, and the birds always start singing when it happens.

In summary, 'if' suggests a hypothetical or uncertain condition, while 'when' implies a certain or expected condition. The choice between 'if' and 'when' depends on the level of certainty or likelihood associated with the condition being described in the conditional clause.