Conditional Clauses : Improbable Situation and Imaginary Situations

a. Improbable Situations


1.

WRONG : If the meeting would be cancelled, they would ring.


CORRECT : If the meeting was cancelled, they would ring.


2.

WRONG : If I would do it , I would do it this way.


CORRECT : If I did it, I would do it this way.


When referring to something that is possible but unlikely to happen, we use past tense for the if clause, and would / could for the main clause.


b. Imaginary Situations


WRONG : If I am you, I will take the offer.


CORRECT : If I were you, I would take the offer.


CORRECT : If I was you, I would take the offer.(Less Formal)


When talking about imaginary situations, we use past tense in the if clause and would/could in the main clause.

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