Unit

100 If I had … If we went … etc.

A
Dan likes fast cars, but he doesn’t have one.
He doesn’t have enough money. If I had the money …

If he had the money, he would buy a fast car.

Usually had is past, but in this sentence had is
not past. If he had the money = if he had the
money now (but he doesn’t have it). DAN
I had / knew / lived (etc.) … , I would …
you didn’t have / didn’t know (etc.) … , you wouldn’t …
If
it were … , it could …
they could … , they couldn’t …

You can say:

If he had the money, he would buy a car.
or He would buy a car if he had the money.
I’d / she’d / they’d etc. = I would / she would / they would etc. :
I don’t know the answer. If I knew the answer, I’d tell you.
It’s raining, so we’re not going out. We’d get wet if we went out.
Jane lives in a city. She likes cities. She wouldn’t be happy if she lived in the country.
If you didn’t have a job, what would you do? (but you have a job)
I’m sorry I can’t help you. I’d help you if I could. (but I can’t)
If we had a car, we could travel more. (but we don’t have a car, so we can’t travel much)

B If (I) was/were …
I wouldn’t go out if I were you.
You can say: if I/he/she/it was or
if I/he/she/it were
It’s not a very nice place. I wouldn’t go there
if I were you. (or … if I was you)
It would be nice if the weather was better.
(or … if the weather were better)
What would Tom do if he were here?
(or … if he was here)

C Compare:

if I have / if it is etc. if I had / if it was etc.

I must go and see Helen. I must go and see Helen.
If I have time, I will go today. If I had time, I would go today.
(= maybe I’ll have time, so maybe (= I don’t have time today, so I will
I’ll go) not go)
I like that jacket. I like this jacket, but it’s very expensive.
I’ll buy it if it isn’t too expensive. I’d buy it if it wasn’t so expensive.
(= maybe it will not be too expensive) (= it is expensive, so I’m not going to
buy it)
I’ll help you if I can. (= maybe I can) I’d help you if I could, but I can’t.

if we go / if I have / if I can etc. ➜ Unit 99

Exercises Unit

Complete the sentences.

100
1 I don’t know the answer. If I knew the answer, I’d tell you.
2 I have a car. I couldn’t travel very much if I didn’t have a car.
3 I don’t want to go out. If I to go out, I’d go.
4 We don’t have a key. If we a key, we could get into the house.
5 I’m not hungry. I would have something to eat if I hungry.
6 Sue enjoys her work. She wouldn’t do it if she it.
7 He can’t speak any foreign languages. If he speak a foreign language,
perhaps he would get a better job.
8 You don’t try hard enough. If you harder, you would have more success.
9 I have a lot to do today. If I so much to do, we could go out.
Put the verb in the correct form.
1 If he had the money, he would buy a fast car. (he/have)
2 Jane likes living in a city. She wouldn’t be happy if she lived in the country. (she/not/be)
3 If I wanted to learn Italian, to Italy. (I go)
4 I haven’t told Helen what happened. She’d be angry if . (she/know)
5 If a map, I could show you where I live. (we/have)
6 What would you do if a lot of money? (you/win)
7 It’s not a very good hotel. there if I were you. (I/not/stay)
8 If nearer London, we would go there more often. (we/live)
9 It’s a shame you have to go now. nice if you had more time. (it/be)
10 I’m not going to take the job. I’d take it if better. (the salary/be)
11 I don’t know anything about cars. If the car broke down, what
to do. (I/not/know)
12 If you could change one thing in the world, what ? (you/change)

Complete the sentences. Choose from the box and put the verb in the correct form.
we (have) a bigger house it (be) a bit cheaper
we (buy) a bigger house the air (be) cleaner
we (have) some pictures on the wall I (watch) it
every day (be) the same I (be) bored

1 I’d buy that jacket if it was a bit cheaper .

2 If there was a good film on TV tonight, .
3 !is room would be nicer if .
4 If there wasn’t so much traffic, .
5 Life would be boring if .
6 If I had nothing to do, .
7 We could invite all our friends to stay if .
8 If we had more money, .

Complete the sentences. Use your own ideas.

1 I’d be happier if I could get a be!er job .
2 If I could go anywhere in the world, .
3 I wouldn’t be very happy if .
4 I’d buy if .
5 If I saw an accident in the street, .
6 !e world would be a better place if .