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.