If-conditionals: Corpus-based classification and frequency distribution

This paper discusses the frequency distribution of the types of if-conditionals recognised in the corpus-based classification developed in Gabrielatos (2010: 230-265). It is pertinent to mention at the outset that if-conditionals have been estimated to account for about 80 per cent of all conditional constructions in written British English (Gabrielatos 2010: 49). The classification was partly adapted from Quirk et al. (1985: 1072-1097), and was based on two interrelated criteria: a) the nature of the link between the two parts of a conditional, (henceforth, protasis and apodosis) and b) the modal nature of the apodosis. The quantitative analysis discussed here provides insights into the nature of each type, and the ways that the interaction of the type of link between protasis and apodosis, and the type of modality expressed by the apodosis gives rise to their potential for use in communication.