GRAMMAR APPOINTMENTS

IF – CLAUSE

If-clause Main clause use example

Simple present Will Situations which If she speaks

Going to are real louder, he will
Can possibilities listen to her
May
must
Simple past Would Situations which If she spoke louder,
Could are unlikely or he would listen to
might unreal her
Past perfect Would have Situations which If she had spoken
Could have were possible in louder, he would
Might have the past, but did have listened to
not occur her.

IF + WERE/WAS

Were can be used after I/he/she/it in place of was specifically in purely imaginary
statements:
If I were you, I would go by plane (but I can’t be you)
If I was/were in New York, I’d visit Greenwich Village.

INVERSION WITH HAD

The inversion with had is a formal variation of If... had:
Had I known it before, I wouldn’t have behaved so badly
(If I had known it before, I wouldn’t have behaved so badly)

EXERCISE
Complete the sentences below:
If I were younger,
They can get a scholarship if
The world would be a better place to live in if
If Meg had won the beauty contest,
Sarah will come to see you if
If he arrives late again,
John wouldn’t be able to solve the problem if
The child would have caught a cold if
If she saw a ghost,
We would have gotten hurt if