What grammatical name is given to if he is lucky?

Answer 1

Ah, what a lovely question! "If he is lucky" is known as a conditional clause, where the outcome depends on a certain condition being met. It adds a sense of possibility and uncertainty to the sentence, like a happy little cloud floating in the sky. Keep exploring the beauty of language, my friend!

Answer 2

The use of 'IF' in this short clause (from a longer sentence) makes it a conditional clause.

The longer sentence will have at least two parts, an if-clause, and a then-clause.

In the context of the example given in the question, the if-clause means that something must happen first, (and thus becomes 'true') and then the then-clause will also happen (or becomes true).

For example,

1. "If he is lucky (if-clause)
2. ... he will roll two sixes at his next throw of dice. (then-clause)

Another example:

1. If Anand passes all his exams (if-clause)
2. ... he will go to university. (then-clause)

SOME TEXTBOOKS describe this type of if-clauseconditional as the 'first conditional'.

'First conditionals' use if + presenttense for the if-clause, and will + infinitive for the then-clause.

NOTE

'Second' and 'third' conditionals are terms used for if-clauses with past and past perfect tenses respectively.

However, there are many different ways of using 'if'. Therefore the arbitrary categories of 1st, 2nd and 3rd conditionals can be a misleading oversimplification of all the actual grammar aspects of 'IF'.

Answer 3

Conditional