How do you write an if statement in Python?

An if statement in Python begins with the keyword "if," followed by a condition and a colon. This structure allows the program to evaluate the condition and execute the indented block of code that follows if the condition is true.

Indentation is crucial in Python because it defines the scope of the code blocks, indicating which lines of code belong to the if statement. The indentation must be consistent, commonly using four spaces or a tab. This distinctive feature is part of what makes Python's syntax clear and reduces errors that can arise from misaligned blocks.

Other options do not correctly capture the structure of an if statement in Python. For instance, saying "if condition followed by the code without indentation" does not align with Python’s requirement for indentation to indicate the code block associated with the if statement. The term "else if" is not a valid term in Python; rather, "elif" is used for additional conditions. Thus, proper understanding of indentation and the correct terminology is essential to successfully formulating if statements in Python.