Common grammatical mistakes made in English: if versus when.
Learning a language is a process of trial and error. Of course, as a non-native speaker, you will occasionally make mistakes; you can't avoid that.
But if you become aware of some common mistakes, you will be one step closer to professionalising your business English.
A common grammatical error made in English by non-native speakers is the use of If versus When.
If versus when
Dutch speakers often confuse the use of if and when because both are translated in Dutch as 'als'. However, using when or if- in English correctly is important in order to make the right nuance in what you want to say:
When
When indicates that something will definitely happen and refers to the time of a future situation:
- When I've finished writing my email I'll come to your desk.
- I'll call you back when I'm at the office.
If
If is about the possibility that something might happen:
- If you don't decide now, you might lose an opportunity.
- We might miss our bus if we don't leave now.
Example
- Wrong: *When it rains, the barbecue will have to be cancelled.
- Right: If it rains, the barbecue will have to be cancelled.
In the following situation if and when can both be used except the meaning is different:
Example
- If Jessica comes in today, can you tell her to go to my office.
(In this situation we're not sure if jessica is coming to the office today) - When Jessica comes in today, can you tell her to go to my office.
(In this situation we're sure Jessica will come to the office, but we don't know when)
A good tip to remember the correct use of when and if, is the following sentence: 'when in doubt, use if!'
More tips on English grammar and common mistakes in English? These articles might also interest you:
- English grammar: Much versus many
- English grammar: Fewer versus less
- English grammar: For versus since
- English grammar: Which versus who
- English grammar: Good, well or right
- English grammar: To lay versus to lie
- English grammar: Present or Present Perfect
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