if + simple past, would /could + simple form
Function: to talk about situations that are contrary to fact, the situation that are opposite to the true situation
Example:
1. If I had enough money, I would buy car.
True situation: I don’t have enough money so I cannot buy car
2. If I were you, I would take her as my fiancé
True situation: I am not you, I cannot take her as my fiancé
Example 1 and 2 the speakers are talking about present or future situations but they use the simple past in the ‘if clause’
Would expresses intended or desired result
Practice:
1. True Situation: I don’t have enough time
If I (have) ….. enough time, I (go) …. To the park
2. True situation: I don’t have enough money
If I (have ) ….. enough money, I (fly) …. Home this weekend
3. True situation: It’s cold today
If it (be, not) ….. cold today, I (go) …. Swimming
4. True situation: I don’t know how to swim
If I (know) …… how to swim, I (go) …. To the beach with you
5. True situation: I don’t understand the sentence
If I (understand) ….. the sentence, I (explain) ……. It to you
