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Achouiantz Cécile

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I. IF SENTENCES (PRESENT/FUTURE)

Ex : If I find your book at my house, I'll give it to you.

In this example, there is a real possibility that I will find the book. So I use : If I find…I will..

Ex : If I found a $100 bill on the street, I would keep it.

This is a different type of situation. I'm not thinking about a real possibility; I'm imagining the situation. So I say : If I found…I would…

When you imagine a future happening like this, you use a past tense form after if. But the meaning is not past.

Ex : If we didn't go to their party next week, they would be very angry.

We do not normally use would in the if part of the sentence :

Ex : If you invited me to the cinema I would accept with pleasure. (not if you would invite..)

But it is possible to say if…would, when you ask someone to do something in a formal way :

Ex : If you would follow me,..

In the other part of the sentence, would is often shortened to 'd (spoken english). You can also use could and might :

Ex : They might be angry if we didn't visit them. (= perhaps they would be)

II. IF AND WISHES SENTENCES (PRESENT)

Use of a past tense form after if

When you imagine a situation and that the meaning is present, not past

Ex : Steve would go to Germany if he had more money. (but he doesn’t have much money)

Use of a past for a present situation after wish

We use wish to say that we regret something, that something is not as we would like it to be.

Ex : I wish I knew Christopher’s telephone number. (I don’t know it)

In if sentences and after wish we use were instead of wasEx : If I were you, I wouldn't watch that show. (but I’m not you)

Use of would: no use in the if part of the sentence or after wish

Ex : I wish I were richer (not I wish I would be richer)

III. IF AND WISH SENTENCES (PAST)

When you are talking about the past, you use the past perfect after if.

Ex : If I had seen you when you passed me in the street, I would have said hello.

Both would and had can be shortened to 'd.

Ex : If I'd seen you, I'd have said hello.

Use the past perfect after wish when you say that you regret something that happened or did not happen in the past :

Ex : I wish I had known that Ann was sick. I would have gone to see her.

You cannot use would have after wish :

Ex : I wish it had been warmer. (not would have been)

Would have (done) is the past form of would (do) :

Ex : If I had gone to the party last night, I would have been tired.

IV. OTHER USE OF WOULD

Would after I wish

When we want something to change or somebody else to do something, we use I wish…would. So, we cannot say " I wish I would…"

Ex : I wish he wouldn’t win the game

Would/ wouldn’t as the past of will/ won’t

Present: Ann: I’ll help you, Dad

Past : Ann said that she would help her dad

Use of would when we remember things that often happened

Ex : When she was young, she lived by the sea. In winter, if the weather was nice, she would get up early and go for a walk.

V. IN CASE

Do not use will after in case. Use a present tense when you are talking about the future :

Ex : I don't want to go out tonight in case Ann calls. (not in case she will call)

In case is not the same as if : compare these sentences :

Ex : We'll buy some more food if Ann comes. ( Perhaps Ann will come; if she comes, we'll buy some more food; if she doesn't come, we won't buy any more food)

Ex : We'll buy some more food in case Ann comes. (Perhaps Ann will come; we'll buy some more food now, whether she comes or not; then we'll already have the food if she comes.

VI. UNLESS, AS LONG, AND PROVIDED/PROVIDING (THAT)

UNLESS

Unless means except if. To make an exception to something we say, we use unless.

Ex : He’ll come tomorrow unless he has to work (= except if he has to work)

AS LONG AS / PROVIDED (THAT) / PROVIDING (THAT) = They mean but only if

Ex : You can use my car as long as (or so long as) you drive carefully (= but only if you drive carefully)
Ex : Providing (that) he studies hard, he would pass the exam ( = but only if he studies hard)

Unless, as long as, provided, providing cannot be used with will when we speak about the future. We have to use a present tense.

Ex : You’ll be late unless you hurry (not unless we will hurry)

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