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 fix my transmission.
(Future)
If we had children, we would need a minivan.
(Present)
We could go anywhere in the world if we bought a boat.
(Future)
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