Conditions, Present Unreal
Leila - October 19th
The second type of conditional sentence is the present-unreal condition. In a present-unreal condition, the simple past tense of the verb is used in the if clause, and would (should, could, or might) is used in the main or answer clause. This is true for all verbs in English except the verb to be. In the case of the verb to be we use a special (subjunctive) form in all if clauses of this type. This special subjunctive form is as follows.
(if) I were, you were, he, she, it were, we were, they were
If I were you, I would not mention it to her.
If John studied hard, he would pass his examination.
If Mary Knew how to swim, she would go to the beach every day.
Note that a present-unreal condition always describes a situation which is hypothetical, "unreal," or contrary-to-fact. Thus:
John does not study hard, but-if he studied hard, he would pass his examination.
Mary does not know how to swim, but-if she knew how to swim, she would go to the beach every day.
