G azərbaycan respublikasi təHSİl naziRLİYİ azərbaycan texniKİ universiteti M. M. QƏNDİLova e. Q. İsmayilova

IF-CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE

if Past Simple would
If I ate cake, I 'd get fat.

If we didn't have a car, we'd find it difficult to get about.

If Rachel got up earlier, she wouldn't always be late
Note: the past simple (e.g. ate). We do not use would in the lf-clause.

not: If I`d eat cake.
As well as the past simple we can use the past continuous (e.g. was doing) in the if-clause.

If Rachel was playing her stereo, it wouldn't be so quiet in here

In a type II if-clause we sometimes use were instead of was especially in the: if I were you.

If Rachel were playing her stereo, it wouldn't be so quiet in here.

If I were you, I’d ask a lawyer for some advice.
The if-clause usually comes first, but it can come after the main clause.

If I knew, I'd tell you./I'd tell you if I knew.

Practice drill
Ken doesn't have a car, but if he had a car, he would drive to the beach each Sunday.

I don't have the time, but if I had more time, I would study French.

If he knew how to drive, he would borrow his uncle's car.

If the weather were nice today, we would go to the park.

If he prepared his lessons every night, he would get better grades.

She would make more progress if she studied more.

I would go with you if I were not so busy.

If he went to bed earlier each night and got more sleep, he would feel better,

He could come with us if he wanted to.

If we had more practice in conversation, we would be able to speak more fluently.

Exercise II. Answer these questions to complete sentences.

1. Would you speak English more fluently if you had more daily conversation practice?

2. If you had a lot of free time, would you go to the movies less or more often?

3. If you could speak English well, would you continue to study, or would you give up studying?

4. If you did your homework more carefully, would you get better grades?

5. If there were more students in your class, would you have more or less opportunity to speak English?

6. If today were Sunday, where would you go and what would you do?

7. If today were a holiday, where would you go and what would you do?

8. If you were a millionaire, do you think you would be happier than you are at present?

9. If you didn’t have to work or study, how would you spend your time?

10. If you knew English perfectly, what other language would you begin to study?

12. If you had a new car, where would you drive this weekend?

13. If you were on vacation now, how would you spend your time?

14. If you could visit any country in the world, what country would you go to?