Unit 38. If I do ... and If I did ...

Unit 38; Part A

Compare these examples:
(1) Lisa has lost her watch. She tells Sue:
        Lisa: I've lost my watch. Have you seen it anywhere?
        Sue: No, but if I find it, I'll tell you.
In this example, Sue feels there is a real possibility that she will find the watch. So she says: if I find..., I'll... .

(2)   Joe says:
        If I found a wallet in the street, I'd take it to the police station.
Thisis a different type of situation. Here, Joe doesn't expect to find awallet in the street: he is imagining a situation that will probablynot happen. 38.1.jpg

So he says: if I found ... , I'd (= I would) ... . (not if I find ... , I'll ...)

When you imagine something like this, you use if + past (if I found / if there was / if we didn't etc.). But the meaning is not past:
•    What would you do if you won a million pounds? (we don't really expect this to happen)
•    I don't really want to go to their party, but I probably will go. They'd be upset if I didn't go.
•    If there was (or were) an election tomorrow, who would you vote for?

For if ... was/were, see Unit 39C.

Unit 38; Part B

We do not normally use would in the if-part of the sentence:

•    I'd be very frightened if somebody pointed a gun at me. (not if somebody would point)
•    If I didn't go to their party, they'd be upset. (not If I wouldn't go)

But you can use if ... would when you ask somebody to do something:
•    (from a formal letter) I would be grateful if you would let me know your decision as soon as possible.

Unit 38; Part C

In the other part of the sentence (not the if-part) we use would ('d) / wouldn't:

•    If you took more exercise, you'd (= you would) feel better.
•    I'm not tired. If I went to bed now, I wouldn't sleep.
•    Would you mind if I used your phone?

Could and might are also possible:
•    If you took more exercise, you might feel better. (= it is possible that you would feel better)
•    If it stopped raining, we could go out. (= we would be able to go out)

Unit 38; Part D

Do not use when in sentences like those on this page:

• They'd be upset if I didn't go to their party. (not when I didn't go)
• What would you do if you were bitten by a snake? (not when you were bitten)

Exercises

1 Put the verb into the correct form.

Put the verb into the correct form.

1    They would be offended if I    didn't go    to their party. (not / go)
2    If you took more exercise, you    would feel    better. (feel)
3    If they offered me the job, I think I ___________ it. (take)
4    A lot of people would be out of work if the car factory ___________. (close down)
5    If I sold my car, I ___________ much money for it. (not / get)
6    (in a lift) What would happen if somebody ___________ that red button? (press)
7    I don't think there's any chance that Gary and Emma will get married. I'd be absolutely astonished if they ___________.(do)
8    Liz gave me this ring. She ___________ very upset if I lost it. (be)
9    Dave and Kate are expecting us. They would be very disappointed if we ___________. (not / come)
10 Would Steve mind if I ___________ his bike without asking him? (borrow)
11 What would you do if somebody ___________ in here with a gun? (walk)
12 I'm sure Sue ___________ if you explained the situation to her. (understand)

2 You ask a friend to imagine these situations.

You ask a friend to imagine these situations. You ask What would you do if ... ?

1    (imagine - you win a lot of money)
      What would you do if you won a lot of money?
2    (imagine - you lose your passport)
      What _______________________________________
3    (imagine - there's a fire in the building)
      _____________________________________________
4    (imagine - you're in a lift and it stops between floors)
      _____________________________________________

3 Answer the questions in the way shown.

Answer the questions in the way shown.

1    A: Shall we catch the 10.30 train?
      B: No. (arrive too earlv) If we caught the 10.30 train, we'd arrive too early.
2    A: Is Kevin going to take his driving test?
      B: No. (fail) If he __________________________________________
3    A: Why don't we stay at a hotel?
      B: No. (cost too much) If __________________________________________
4    A: Is Sally going to apply for the job?
      B: No. (not / get it) If __________________________________________
5    A: Let's tell them the truth.
      B: No. (not / believe us) If __________________________________________
6    A: Why don't we invite Bill to the party?
      B: No. (have to invite his friends too) __________________________________________

4 Use your own ideas to complete these sentences.

Use your own ideas to complete these sentences.

1    If you took more exercise, you'd feel better.
2    I'd be very angry if ____________________
3    If I didn't go to work tomorrow. ____________________
4    Would you go to the party if ____________________
5    If you bought some new clothes, ____________________
6    Would vou mind if ____________________

Unit 37 Unit 38 Unit 39

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