If: real and imaginary

Talk about real possibilities and imaginary situations. Lesson 26 of 58: Conversation, CEFR B1.

Real possibilities

If + present, will + verb: a real future possibility. “If it rains, we’ll stay in.” “If you send it today, I’ll check it tonight.” Never “will” after “if” in this pattern: “If it will rain” is wrong.
The zero conditional is for things always true: “If you heat ice, it melts.”
If you’re free, we’ll go for lunch.
If I have time, I’ll call you.
If you press this, it turns off. (Always true)

Imaginary situations

If + past, would + verb: unreal or unlikely now. “If I had more time, I’d travel.” (I don’t have time.) Use “were” for all persons in careful speech: “If I were you…” “If she were here…”
If I had a million dollars, I’d buy a house by the sea.
If I were you, I wouldn’t worry. (Advice)
What would you do if you lost your job?
Tip: “If I was you” is common in casual speech, but “If I were you” is the form to use at work.

Unless, as long as, in case

Unless means “if not”: “I’ll come unless it rains.” As long as means “only if”: “You can borrow it as long as you return it.” In case means “because it might happen”: “Take an umbrella in case it rains.”
We’ll start at nine unless there’s traffic.
It’s fine as long as you tell me first.

Lines to have ready

If I were you, I’d… (Advice)
What would you do if…? (A great conversation question)
If that works for you, I’ll… (Polite proposal)
As long as… (A condition)
Just in case. (A precaution)

Your turn to speak

Answer three “What would you do if…?” questions: if you won a lot of money, if you could change one thing about your city, and if you could have any job. Then say what you will do this weekend if the weather is good, and if it isn’t.
I used if + past, would for the imaginary ones
I used if + present, will for the real ones
I gave a reason for each answer

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