Page 123 - Basic English Usage

123 165

2 We can use the same tenses with fas with other conjunctions.
If you want to learn a musical instrument, you have to practise.
if that was Mary, why didn’t she stop and say hello?
lf you don’t like hot weather, you'll be unhappy in Texas.
3 in the iAclause, we usually use a present tense to talk about the future.
(This happens after most conjunctions — see 343.)
If |have enough time tomorrow, !'ll Come and see you.
(NOT ttHwitthave-enougttime ...)
lll give her your love if 1 see her.
(NOT ... #+wiltsee-her-)
4 We can use in polite requests, but the meaning is not really
future.
If you will come this way, I'll take you to the manager's office.
(= If you are willing to come this way, ...)
For in reported speech (for example / don't know If I'll be here
tomorrow), see 343.2.
For /fnot and unless, see 350.
For the use of special tenses with if, see 165.

165 if: special tenses

We use ‘special’ tenses with if when we are talking about ‘unreal’
situations — things that will probably not happen, present or future
situations that we are imagining, or things that did not happen. (For
example, we can use past tenses to talk about the future.)
1 Present and future situations
To talk about ‘unreal’ or improbable situations now or in the future, we
use a past tense in the i#clause, and a conditional (see 88) in the other
part of the sentence.
|
if+ past, conditional
+
conditional if past
if! knew her name, | would tell you.
(NOT +#HHweuld-inow ... NOT ... HwilHettyet.)
If you came tomorrow, | would have more time to talk.
! would be perfectly happy if | had a car.
What would you do if you lost your job?
We often use were instead of was after if, especially ina formal style.
if | were rich, | would spend all my time travelling.