should i say "if i am hungry, i go to buy food." or "if i am hungry, i will go to buy food."
what's the usage of "if" in situations like this?
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Answers · 6
1
Both are possible, it depends on the situation.
If I am hungry, I go to buy food - this is something that is generally true and happens regularly.
If I am hungry, I will go and buy food. - This is describing a single possible event in the future.
1
You can use "if I am hungry, I go to buy food" to describe what you do usually. The phrase "if I am hungry, I will go to buy food" can be used to describe your possible future plans.
0
1. If i am hungry, I go to buy food. (this form is called the ZERO conditional)
2. If I am hungry, I will go to buy food. (this form is called the FIRST conditional)
#1 is technically more correct, but #2 is what most English speakers say. Go with #2.
Tips to improve the readability of your English writing:
1. Always capitalize the pronoun "I", always.
2. Always capitalize the first word of every sentence.
If you don't do #1/#2, then I assume you are either lazy or on Day 1 of your English studies. You don't want me to assume either of these, do you?
0
It helps to re-word the phrase. If you are saying what you will do in the future if a condition is met, you say:
I will go to buy food if I am hungry.
I will buy a ticket to La Traviata if I can find the money.
I will take the subway if my car breaks down.
I will go to Paris if the airfare is under $600.
I will join you at the show if I can find a babysitter.
If you are talking about something you do habitually, sometimes you have a choice between "if" and "when" and sometimes it's much clearer to use "when" and especially "whenever":
I go to the grocery store if/when I am hungry.
I go to Paris whenever I have the money.
I take the subway if/when my car breaks down.
I go to the opera whenever I have the money.
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