How to create dynamic alias (Conditional command) in bash?

I want to create shortcut for 'code file' (VS Code) if there's a second argument, or 'clear' if there's none in a single command line, but i don't know how the bash syntax works.

By looking at the mkcd (mkdir & cd) shortcut that i created:

function mkcd {
  if [ ! -n "$1" ]; then
    echo "Enter a directory name"
  elif [ -d $1 ]; then
    echo "\`$1' already exists"
  else
    mkdir $1 && cd $1
  fi
}

I tried to do the same, but the error shows 'syntax error near unexpected token `else''

function c {
  if $1 then 
    code $1
  else
    clear
  fi
}