Is it Possible?
When you are talking about possible results of future actions, the form is usually If I do something, he will do something. (i.e. If I get tired, I will go home. If she comes home, I will call you…)
However, this grammar is only correct for future plans. In conversations, sometimes you must suppose something that is not a possible state of reality. These are called subjunctive conditionals.
Subjunctive Conditionals
Subjunctive tense is making suppositions that do not match reality, while conditionals are if statements. Subjunctive conditionals have similar form, except: 1) in the if clause you use subjunctive tense, and 2) in the antecedent you use would (or could) + infinitive.
The Grammar
Subjunctive Conditionals (Regular)
| If | Subject #1 | Verb (Past) | Rest of info, comma | Subject #2 | would + infinitive | Rest of info, period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | had | a job, | my parents | would be | happy. | |
| you | took | a math class, | you | would learn | a lot. | |
| If | he | knew | the answer, | I | wouldn’t need to | help him. |
| she | didn’t live | far away, | I | would visit | her. | |
| it | stopped | raining, | we | could go | outside. | |
| we | had | a dog, | our home | would feel | safe. | |
| they | liked | Mexican food, | we | could eat | tacos on my birthday. |
In each of these examples, the if clause is not true: I don’t have a job, you’re not taking a math class, he doesn’t know the answer, etc.
You can also move the if clause to the end of the sentence. If you do so, simply remove the comma. For example:
- My parents would be happy if I had a job.
- You would learn a lot of you took a math class.
- I wouldn’t need to help him if he knew the answer.
- We could eat tacos on my birthday if my mother liked Mexican food.
The Only Exception
In all of the examples we used above, the subjunctive verbs in the if clauses were exactly the same as past tense. However, there is one exception where the subjunctive is not the same as past tense: the verb to be.
Fortunately, this is not very difficult; for every subject, simply use were, not was.
Subjunctive Conditionals with “To Be”
| If | Subject #1 | To Be (Were) | Rest of info, comma | Subject #2 | would + infinitive | Rest of info, period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | were | a doctor, | my parents | would be | happy. | |
| you | were | a good student, | you | would learn | a lot. | |
| he | were | smart, | I | wouldn’t need to | help him. | |
| If | she | were | closer, | I | would visit | her. |
| it | weren’t | raining, | we | could go | outside. | |
| we | were | in a different city, | our home | would feel | safe. | |
| they | weren’t | on vacation, | we | could meet | on my birthday. |
Just like the previous chart, the information in all these if clauses is untrue; in reality, I am not a doctor, he is not smart, it is raining, etc.
More Example Sentences
- If I knew more people, we would throw a party.
- If John were a doctor, he would have more money.
- If Lacey weren’t a doctor, she would have more time.
- They wouldn’t be at work if they were sick.
- I would go to work if I weren’t sick.
- Elvis would be 80 if he were still alive.
- If we lived in Germany, we could study for free.
- I could call you if I had a phone.
- Would you mind if I borrowed your pen?
Picture Examples
If you were in Siberia, it would be cold. 
If I had a better job, I could buy a better car. 
If he lost weight, he would be healthier. 
It would be awesome if you drove a Corvette. 
We would lose weight if we didn’t eat so much fast food. 
If I found a million dollars, I would keep it! 
Would you be scared if you saw a bear?
Practice Conversation
John and Amy are at a casino.
John: What would you do if you won a million dollars?
Amy: If I won a million dollars, I would buy a better car. Then I would buy stocks.
John: That’s all? You wouldn’t travel?
Amy: I would do more fun things if I won more money, but one million dollars doesn’t make you rich.
John: I guess you’re right. If you won a million dollars, the government would take more than 20%, wouldn’t they?
Amy: I wouldn’t be surprised if they took more than that! And even if the government only took 20%, I would still only have $800,000. I still wouldn’t be a millionaire.
John: Then I’ll change my question: What would you do if you won ten million dollars?
Amy: If I had ten million dollars I wouldn’t worry about anything! I could travel to Europe, I could open a restaurant…
John: You could give me a million dollars too!
Amy: Never! If I gave you a million dollars, you would probably spend it all in a week!
Conclusion
Now you have learned a very important lesson. This will help you communicate more clearly; it makes the context of your conversation easier to understand.
If all my students spoke like this, I would be a proud teacher!