Betekenis van if In het Nederlands

• 0 used to say that a particular thing can or will happen only after something else happens or becomes true:

  • I'll pay you double if you get the work finished by Friday.

  • We'll have the party in the garden if the weather's good. If not (= if the weather is not good), it'll have to be inside.

  • If anyone calls, just say I'll be back in the office at four o'clock.

  • If she hadn't called, I wouldn't have known.

  • I wouldn't work for them (even) if they paid me twice my current salary.

  • We'll deal with that problem if and when it arises.

  • If disturbed, the bird may abandon the nest, leaving the chicks to die.

  • They're great kids, even if they can be demanding.

  • literary It was a hot, if windy day.

  • If water is heated to 100°C it turns to steam.

  • If I don't get enough sleep I get a headache.

  • I'm very sorry if I've offended you.

• 1 used to introduce a clause, often in indirect speech, that shows two or more possibilities:

  • Mrs Kramer called half an hour ago to ask if her cake was ready.

  • I don't care if he likes it or not - I'm coming!

  • I was wondering if you'd like to come to the cinema with me this evening?

• 2 used when you want to make a polite request or remark:

  • If you'd like to take a seat, Mr Chang will be with you in a moment.

  • Would you mind if I open/opened (= can I open) the window?

  • There are, if you don't mind me saying so, one or two problems with this plan.

• 3 something that is not certain or not yet decided:

  • There's a big if hanging over the project (= it is uncertain whether the project will happen).

• 4 used to say that a particular thing can or will happen when, only when, or after something else happens or becomes true:

  • We’ll have the party in the backyard if the weather’s good.

  • If anyone calls for me, just say I’ll be back at 4 o’clock.

  • Would you mind if I opened the window (= May I open it)?

  • This time of year we get little, if any, rain (= almost none).

  • If I don’t have a cup of coffee in the morning, I’m useless.

  • I’m sorry if I’ve offended you.

  • If it weren’t for your help, we would never have finished in time.

• 5 (used to introduce a clause, often when reporting what someone else said) whether:

  • Mrs. Kramer called to ask if her cake was ready.

• 6 something that is not yet certain or not yet decided:

  • The plan contains a lot of ifs.