English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 38: If I do ... and If I did ...

Compare these examples:

(1)
LISA: Shall we go by bus or by train?
JESS: If we go by bus, it will be cheaper.

For Jess, it is possible that they will go by bus, so she says:
If we go by bus, it will be ...

(2) Lisa and Jess decide to go by train. Later, Jess talks to Joe.
JOE: How are you going to travel?
JESS: We're going by train. If we went by bus, it would be cheaper, but the train is quicker.

Now jess knows they are not going to travel by bus, so she says:
If we went by bus, it would be .. . (not If we go ... )

When we imagine something that will not happen, or we don't expect that it will happen, we use if + past (if we went / if there was / if you found etc.).

But the meaning is not past:
  • What would you do if you won a lot of money? (we don't really expect this to happen)
  • If there was (or were) an election tomorrow, who would you vote for?

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

Compare if I find and if I found:
  • I think I left my watch at your house. If you find it, can you call me?
    but  If you found a wallet in the street, what would you do with it?

We do not normally use would in the if-part of the sentence:
  • I'd be very scared if somebody pointed a gun at me. (not if somebody would point)
  • If we went by bus, it would be cheaper. (not If we would go)

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

In the other part of the sentence (not the if-part) we use would ('d) / wouldn't:
  • What would you do if you were bitten by a snake?
  • I'm not going to bed yet. 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 I won a lot of money, I might buy a house. (= it is possible that I would buy a house)
  • If it stopped raining, we could go out. (= we would be able to go out)

38.1 What do you say in these situations?

  1. Of course you don't expect to win the lottery. Which do you say?
    • a) If I win the lottery, I'll buy a big house.
    • b) If I won the lottery, I'd buy a big house.
  2. You're not going to sell your car because it's old and not worth much. Which do you say?
    • a) If I sell my car, I won't get much money for it.
    • b) If I sold my car, I wouldn't get much money for it.
  3. You often see Sarah. A friend of yours wants to contact her. Which do you say?
    • a) If I see Sarah, I'll tell her to call you.
    • b) If I saw Sarah, I'd tell her to call you.
  4. You don't expect that there will be a fire in the building. Which do you say?
    • a) What will you do if there is a fire in the building?
    • b) What would you do if there was a fire in the building?
  5. You've never lost your passport. You can only imagine it.
    • a) I don't know what I'll do if I lose my passport.
    • b) I don't know what I'd do if I lost my passport.
  6. Somebody stops you and asks the way to a bank. Which do you say?
    • a) If you go right at the end of this street, you'll see a bank on your left.
    • b) If you went right at the end of this street, you'd see a bank on your left.
  7. You're in a lift. There is an emergency button. Nobody is going to press it. Which do you say?
    • a) What will happen if somebody presses that button?
    • b) What would happen if somebody pressed that button?

38.2 Put the verb into correct form.

  1. I'd be very scared if somebody (1) (point) a gun at me.
  2. I can't afford to buy a car. If I (2) __________ (buy) a car, I'd have to borrow the money.
  3. Don't lend Amy your car. If she (3) __________ (ask) me, I wouldn't lend her mine.
  4. If the computer factory closed down, many people (4) __________ (lose) their jobs.
  5. I don't think Gary and Emma will get married. I (5) __________ (be) amazed if they did.
  6. What would you do if you (6) __________ (be) in a lift and it (7) __________ (stop) between floors?
  7. If somebody (8) __________ (give) me £10,000, I (9) __________ (have) a very long holiday.

38.3 Write sentences beginning If ....

  1. We've decided not to cat ch the 10.30 train. (arrive too early)
    .
  2. Kevin is not going to do his driving test now. (fail)
    If he __________ .
  3. We've decided not to stay at a hotel. (cost too much)
    If __________ .
  4. Sally isn't going to leave her job. (not / get another one)
    __________ .
  5. We've decided not to invite Ben to the party. (have to invite his friends too)
    __________ .
  6. I'm not going to tell him what happened. (not / believe me)
    __________ .

38.4 Use your own ideas to complete these sentences.

  1. If I won a lot of money, .
  2. I'd be very angry if __________ .
  3. If you bought a car, __________ .
  4. I'd be surprised if __________ .
  5. Would you mind if __________ ?

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