Even if and even though

Three sentences from this morning's class:

1) Abdullah smokes, even though he knows it’s bad for him.
2) Abdullah will not give up smoking, even if the price of cigarettes goes up.
3) Abdullah would not give up smoking, even if Mark paid him a million pounds.

So what's the difference? Sentence 1 deals with two facts - two things which are already true now. Abdullah knows that smoking is bad for him. Surprisingly, he smokes. It's surprising, but it's a fact.

Sentence 2 refers to the possibility that cigarette prices might rise, so it has a conditional function. It's about something that may happen in the future. Sentence 3, meanwhile, is also conditional, but this time there is no chance that it will ever happen. This is just hypothetical speculation and its puporse it to express how committed Abdullah is to smoking.

You may also be interested in the following ways that a modal or other auxiliary verb can be used in the conditional clause of a sentence:

If you start a sentence like this, it will be fine.
If you forgive me, I will be thankful.

If you will smoke, your health will be a problem.
(If you insist on smoking…)

If you will bite your nails, they will look ugly. (willingness / volition)

Do not forget to bring your books. If you do forget to bring your book, your classmates might not want to share theirs.