How to use WHAT IF:
1. What if is usually used in the beginning of a question, when we ask about the consequences of an action. We use what if here to indicate present or future situations.
For example,
- What if there is no fish in the river? You won’t be able to fish then.
- What if I go home earlier, and miss all the fun?
2. We also use what if to indicate past situations.
For example,
- What if you broke the glasses? Your mom would be furious!
- What if the boat sank? You would have drowned!
You might have notice that what if questions is just another way of expressing conditionals.
We could have said:
- If there is no fish in the river, you won’t be able to swim.
or
- If the boat sank, you would have drowned.
So, remember when you use what if – that it’s just another way to express conditionals. 🙂
Read more:
5 Conditionals with IF and WHEN
USEFUL TIP:
You can also use SUPPOSE or SUPPOSING instead of WHAT IF.
[Tweet “TIP: Use SUPPOSE or SUPPOSING instead of WHAT IF.”]
For example,
- Suppose, you broke the glasses?
- Supposing, the boat sank?
