If + Past Simple, would/wouldn’t + V1

Conditional 2 is used to talk about imaginary situations in the present/future.

E.g.  If I had some free time now, I’d go to the gym.(I don’t have any free time now).

You’d know more if you studied more.

If you didn’t live so far, we’d meet every day.

Would you marry him if he proposed?

Note:

a) If + I, he, she, it + were

E.g. If she were less stubborn, she would accept our offer.

If I were you… is used for giving advice:

If I were you, I’d try my luck.

b) We can use ‘might’ and ‘could’ instead of ‘would’

If we lived in the countryside, we could go horse-riding.

If you went to Paris, you might like it.

c) We can use Past Continuous instead of Past Simple in an ‘if-clause’

If we were skating now, it would be much better.

d) We can use ‘would be Ving’ instead of ‘would V1’ to emphasize the moment

If she liked her job, she wouldn’t be looking for a new one.

e) We can use the construction If it were not for to explain why something is happening/not happening

If it were not for you, I wouldn’t know these fantastic people.

If it were not for the rain, we would go cycling.

More structures

I wish/ If only + past simple ! just a wish

I wish/ if only you were you! 

 

* NOTE!: I wish/ If only + would V1 (meaning: criticism of sth annoying, dissatisfaction)

I wish/ If only my teacher wouldn’t be so strict.

I wish/ If only my neighbours wouldn’t make so much noise.

If only my mom was more caring.

Exercises

Homework