i I If I do ... and If I did Compare these examples: (1) Lisa has lost her watch. She tells Sue: LlSA: 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'1I . (2) Joe says: If I found a wallet in the street, I'd take it to the police station. This is a different type of situation. Here, Joe doesn't expect to find a wallet in the street; he is imagining a situation that will probably not happen. 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. 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. In the other part of the sentence (not the if-part) we use would fd) / 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) 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) 76 Will -» Units 21-22 If and when If I had known -* Unit 40 Unit 25D Would Unit 36 If I knew — Unit 39 Exercises Unit 38 38.1 Put the verb into the correct form. 1 They would be offended if I.....didn't .9°.....to their party, (not / go) 2 If you took more exercise, you.....W.QuUi....fe^t.....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 do 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? (pre: 7 I don't think there's any chance that Gary and Emma will get married. I'd be absolutely wn) 38.2 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) You ask a friend to imagine these situations. You ask What would you do if ... ? 1 (imagine - you win a lot of money) .....Wh#....w.Quld ..you .,^,.Mj^„.!^^..„^..}/^^..^^mI............................................................................................................ 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) 38.3 Answer the questions in the way shown. 1 A: Shall we catch the 10.30 train? b: No. (arrive too early) ......If jme. eaugfrfc fre. 1QT3Q tr