When or If?
When do we use when and if?
| Word | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| when | you are sure that something is going to happen | When I’m in Rome, I’ll visit you. (I’m sure, that I’m going to Rome.) |
| if | you are not sure that something is going to happen | If I’m in Rome, I’ll visit you. (I’m not sure, that I’m going to Rome.) |
You can both use when and if when you talk about things that happen repeatedly (in generalizations).
- When you heat ice, it melts.
- If you heat ice, it melts.