the conditional

noun

grammar
: the mood or form that is used to say that something is true or happens only if something else is true or happens
The conditional is often marked by the word "if."

Examples of the conditional in a Sentence

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The order used imperative language but implied the conditional tense, casting readers—the country at large—to live in the blank space of the could. Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2025 There are a few options available, and the Trump administration has given the conditional green light to one made by Zoetis. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“The conditional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20conditional. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

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