KomFi. Academy

Conditional

GMAT glossary · Verbal Reasoning

Definition

A logical statement of the form “If A, then B.”

Conditional in plain English

A conditional is just an 'if...then' promise: 'If A happens, then B happens.' It only makes a claim about what follows WHEN A is true, for example, 'If it rains, then the ground gets wet' tells you nothing about a dry day. The whole promise is broken only in one situation: when A is true but B turns out false (it rained, but the ground stayed dry). Spotting this structure is huge on the GMAT, because most logic questions hinge on what an 'if...then' does and does not guarantee.

Learn these first

Sign up free: all 257 GMAT terms as flashcards, plus practice questions with full explanations →

Related GMAT terms

GMAT practice questions · GMAT flashcards · GMAT study guide