THERE’S NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE FOR A WILLING HEART.
1. If you run after two hares, a. wear it
2. If the sky falls, b. you will get up with fleas
3. If you lie down with dogs, c. you will catch none
4. If the cap fits, d. Mahomet will go to the mountain
5. If the mountain doesn’t come to Mahomet, e. we shall catch larks
If + present simple,
will + infinitive
Compare
If the weather is fine, I will go to school.
If the weather were fine, I would go to school.
would + infinitive
If + past simple
,
Use
1. for unreal situations in the present or future
2. for giving advice
Notice
The verb “ to be ” has a special form in the if clause
Use “ were ” for all persons
1)A. I don’t know Chinese.
If I knew Chinese, I would go to China.
I would speak Chinese every day, If I knew it.
B. My family doesn’t have a car.
If my family had a car, I would learn to drive.
If my family had a car, I wouldn’t have to walk so much.
2)A. If I were you, I wouldn’t go there.
B. If I were in your shoes, I would learn English better.
A. Look at the examples and then complete the sentences.
If you turned it upside down, it would be much easier.
If I were you, I’d turn it upside down.
If would be better if he turned it back to front,
I wouldn’t do it like that if I were you.
1.If John (were / would be) here, he (knew / would know) what to do.
2.Do you think it (were / would be) a good idea if I (phoned / would phone) the police?
3.What (did / would) you do if you (won / would win) a million pounds?
4.If I (had / would have) more time I (learnt / would learn) either karate or judo.
5.What (did / would) you say if I (asked / would ask) you to marry me?
6.If you (changed / would change) your job, what (did / would) you do?
7.If today (were / would be) Sunday I (were / would be) in bed.
8.I (went / would go) and see Jake tomorrow if I (knew / would know) his address.
B. On what conditions would you do the following things?
Example: When would you be rude to a stranger?
I would be rude to a stranger, if a stranger were rude to me.
1.When would you shout “Help”?
2. When would you phone to the fire–brigade?
3. When would you borrow money from your friend?
4. When would you travel across the country?
5. When would you learn English?
C. Rephrase the following sentences using if:
Example: You don’t understand this because you don’t speak English.
You would understand this if you spoke English.
1. You don’t want to marry me because you don’t love me.
2. I don’t eat that kind of food because I don’t like it.
3. I won’t come to see you because I have no time.
4. Jack has no chance of passing the exam because he never studies.
5. Perhaps I’ll get a better job. I’ll earn more than.
Pair-work
Custom and common sense tell us what to do in some situations.
Practice this dialogue with a partner.
A: What would you do if a stronger gave you an expensive gift?
B: If a stranger gave me an expensive gift, I would give it back.
A: What would you do if ____________?
B: If _________, I _____________.
Choose one of the situations. Write a short paragraph that includes answers to the questions.
1.Imagine you are a famous person. If you were that famous person, where would you live? What would your daily life be like? What could you do that you can’t do now?
2. Choose a city or a country. If you lived in that place, how would your daily life be different from what it is right now? What could you do that you can’t do now?
3. Think about something that you don’t have. If you had that thing, what would you do with it? How would your life be different if you had it?
Giving advice
If I were you…
If I were in you shoes…
Read the sentences, and then write a similar ‘if – chain’ yourself.
If I won a million dollars, I would buy a fast car.
If I bought a fast car, I would probably drive it too fast.
If I drove it too fast, I would have an accident.
If I had an accident, I would go to hospital.
If I went to hospital, perhaps I would meet a beautiful nurse and fall in love with her.
If she fell in love with me, we would get married.
If we got married, we would be very happy at the beginning.
But then, perhaps I would meet somebody else.
If I met somebody else, …..