I want to go on vacation but I don't have any time. If I had more time, I would go to Hawaii.
If + Past...Would / Could
If something is not possible or it is imaginary, we use if with the past. In the second clause, we use would or could:
| If |
I you we he she etc. |
had... didn't have... knew... didn't know... etc. |
I you we he she etc. |
would / wouldn't could / couldn't |
go... have... play... etc. |
We use if + past, but this grammar does not have a past meaning. We use this grammar about the present or the future:
If I had a car, I wouldn't need my bicycle.
(Present)
I could help you tonight if I didn't have to work.
(Future)
If we had children, we would live in a bigger apartment.
(Present)
We could go anywhere in the world if we bought a boat.
(Future)
As we studied in Grammar 12-1, we can use if at the beginning or in the middle of the sentence:
- If you were a native English speaker, you wouldn't be in this class.
- You wouldn't be in this class if you were a native English speaker.
Were
In this grammar, we usually say were as the past form of be. Was is okay, but were is better English:
| If |
I you he she it we they |
were... |
If we were birds, we could fly anywhere for free.
If I were (or was) you, I wouldn't buy that shirt.
My mother wouldn't like this if she were (or was) here.
If + Past or Present?
Remember, we use if + past with would and could because something is imaginary or impossible. If something is possible, do not use this grammar:
Example #1
Mason is at a cafe, but there is no wifi. He can't check his email. He says...
- "If there were wifi in this cafe, I would check my email."
David is at a cafe. He is not sure if the cafe has wifi. He says...
- "If there is wifi in this cafe, I will check my email."
Example #2
James wants to buy a new computer, but he doesn't have enough money. He says...
- "If I had enough money, I would buy a new computer."
Susan wants to buy a new computer. She may have enough money in the future. She says...
- "If I have enough money, I will buy a new computer."
Exercise
Please click the Exercise link to continue.