If Clauses
Study the examples given below.
- If we go by the bus, it will take longer to reach the airport.
When we are certain that something will happen, we use a simple present tense in the if-clause and will + infinitive in the main clause.
- If she learns English, she will get a better job.
- If you have a university degree, your career prospects will improve.
When we imagine something that we do not expect to happen, we use a simple past tense in the if-clause and would / could / might + infinitive in the main clause.
- If she learnt English, she would get a better job.
We do not expect her to get a better job because we believe that she is unlikely to learn English.
Similarly, If you had a university degree, your career prospects would improve. (We are talking about something unlikely to happen here.)
Note that if + simple past does not have a past meaning. It is used to talk about situations that are unlikely to happen in the present or future.
- If it stopped raining, we could go out. (We do not expect it to stop raining.)
- If she learnt her lessons, she would not fail the test.
- If I had won a lottery, I could travel around the world. (My chances of winning the lottery are slim.)
Worksheet
Read the following sentences and answer the questions.
1. If I became the Prime Minister, I would abolish taxes. Am I likely to become the Prime Minister?
2. It is an old and dilapidated house. If you sold it, you wouldn’t get much money for it. Do I expect you to sell the house?
3. If she learnt from her mistakes, she wouldn’t commit them again and again. Did she learn from her mistakes?
4. If you start now, you will not miss the train. Do I expect you to start now?
5. If you take the medicine, you will get better. If it possible that you will take the medicine?
Answers
1. No, 2. No, 3. No, 4. Yes, 5. Yes
See also
