Present Unreal (Untrue) Conditionals

Exercises

IF-CLAUSE	RESULT CLAUSE	Explanation:
past tense verb	would + present verb could + present verb	if-clause uses simple past result clause uses modal + present
If it rained today, (It's not raining today) If I didn't have his address, (I have his address.)	I would need an umbrella. (I do not need an umbrella.) I couldn't send an invitation. (I can send an invitation.)	<-Present Untrue Conditionals are used to talk about situations that are not true. They are used when you want to fantasize about something, or speculate on a situation.
If Jason weren't here, (He is here.) If I were you, (I am not you.)	he couldn't help us. (He can help us.) I would call him. (I will not call him.)	In Present Untrue Conditionals, the "to be" verb is always "were" in the if-clause, for all subjects: I, you, he, she, it, we, and they.
If I had $500,	I could buy some new clothes, or I could take a short trip.	When "could" is used in the result clause, it expresses a possibility.
If Cindy had a car,	she would drive to school.	When "would" is used in the result clause, it expresses a plan, or a probability.

Compare:Marsha:   A) "I bought a car last week." Greg:       B) "If I bought a car, I would buy a Porsche."
Word	FORM (how the word looks)	FUNCTION (how the word works)	EXPLANATION:
A) bought	past tense verb	expresses past tense	In sentence (A), "bought" looks like a past tense verb, and it works like a past tense verb. Marsha now has a car because she bought one.
B) bought	past tense verb	expresses an untrue situation	In sentence (B), "bought" looks like a past tense verb, BUT it is expressing a situation that is not real. Greg did not buy a car. He is talking about his fantasy car!

Now it's Your Turn - Choose one of the exercises below: If-Then Clauses 3 - practice the if-clause If-Then Clauses 4 - practice the result-clause