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Special structures with past tenses and would

Examples
  • If I knew her name, I would tell you.
  • What would you do if you lost your job?

Unreal situations​

We use special structures with if when we are talking about unreal situations – things that will probably not happen, situations that are untrue or imaginary, and similar ideas. In these cases, we use past tenses and would to ‘distance’ our language from reality.

if + past; would + infinitive​

To talk about unreal or improbable situations now or in the future, we use a past tense in the if-clause (even though the meaning is present or future), and would + infinitive (without to) in the other part of the sentence.

  • If I knew her name, I would tell you. (not If I know …) or If I would know … or … I will tell you.
  • She would be perfectly happy if she had a car.
  • What would you do if you lost your job?

This structure can make suggestions sound less definite, and so more polite.

  • It would be nice if you helped me a bit with the housework.
  • Would it be all right if I came round about seven tomorrow?

would, should and ’d​

After I and we, should is sometimes used with the same meaning as would. This is now unusual in British English, and has almost disappeared from American English.

  • If I knew her name, I should tell you. (rare)

We use ’d as a contraction (see here).

  • We’d get up earlier if there was a good reason to.
note

For I should … meaning ‘I advise you to …’, (see here).

For would in the if-clause, (see here).

For should in the if-clause, (see here).

if I were, etc​

We often use were instead of was after if. This is common in both formal and informal styles. In a formal style were is more common than was, and many people consider it more correct, especially in American English. The grammatical name for this use of were is ‘subjunctive’ (see here).

  • If I were rich, I would spend all my time travelling.
  • If my nose were a little shorter, I’d be quite pretty.
note

For the expression If I were you …, (see here).

Ordinary tense-use or special tense-use? If I come or if I came?​

The difference between, for example, if I come and if I came is not necessarily a difference of time. They can both refer to the future; but the past tense suggests that a future situation is impossible, imaginary or less probable. Compare:

  • If I become President, I’ll … (said by a candidate in an election)
    If I became President, I’d … (said by a schoolboy)
  • If I win this race, I’ll … (said by the fastest runner)
    If I won this race, I’d … (said by the slowest runner)
  • Will it be all right if I bring a friend? (direct request)
    Would it be all right if I brought a friend? (less direct, more polite)

could and might​

We can use could to mean ‘would be able to’ and might to mean ‘would perhaps’ or ‘would possibly’.

  • If I had another £500, I could buy a car.
  • If you asked me nicely, I might get you a drink.
note

For other cases where a past tense has a present or future meaning, (see here).

For if only, (see here).