1月27日号：If and when

If and when are both used to talk about conditions. Today, we will look at how we can use these words naturally in conversation.

Both if and when can be used to talk about facts and habits. We use the simple present for both clauses.

For example:

◆If/When you push this button, you can enlarge this document. (fact)

◆I always order curry if/when I go to that restaurant. (habit)

Generally, if or when mean the same thing in these sentences. However, we should only use when for situations that we are 100 percent certain will happen.

For example:

◆When the sun rises, my dog wakes me up.

×If the sun rises, my dog wakes me up.

We also use if and when to talk about future events. We use the simple present with the if/when clause, and the future tense in the main clause.

For example:

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英会話イーオン東京本社教務課コーディネーター。イーオン教師のトレーニングや英語セミナーを企画制作するカリスマ教師として活躍中。カリフォルニア大学バークレー校卒業。趣味は読書、料理、クラフトワーク。