Present Unreal Situations
Strategizing with hypothetical statements
In hypothetical statements (conditional sentences) that express untrue, nonfactual ideas in the present, the past is used in the if-clause.
The statement in the if-clause is not occurring: it is being considered as an option or plan.
Strategy and Cause-Effect Statements
Before making a move in a game like chess, a player thinks about what would happen if he or she made the move. The player does not actually make the move, but thinks about it instead. No move is made until the player considers several hypothetical moves. The player is analyzing options based on cause-effect relationships.
| STRATEGY | PRESENT UNREAL STATEMENT |
|---|---|
A strategy states a well-thought out but imaginary action taken on some thing or some one.. |
A cause-effect statement with "if" is followed by a past tense verb forms to indicate the imaginary or hypothetical situation. |
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If I moved my pawn forward, then I could take his bishop. (present unreal) |
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If I slid my castle out of the way, then his queen might not take it. (present unreal) |
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If I checkmated his king, my friend would be mad. (present unreal) |
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If I were a good friend, I would let my friend win once in a while. (present unreal) |
Move my pawn forward to take his bishop.
Slide my castle out of the way of his knight and queen.
Checkmate his king. Make him mad.
Let my friend win. Be a good friend.
Sentence Types
| CONDITION | HYPOTHETICAL RESULTING ACTION |
|---|---|
STATEMENT |
|
| If I were/was a millionaire, |
I would buy a private jet. |
| If I were/was a millionaire, |
I could buy a private jet. |
If I could choose anything, |
I would buy a house. |
If I could choose anything, |
*I could buy a house. (repeating could is awkward) |
Were I a millionaire, |
I could buy a house. |
NEGATIVE STATEMENT |
|
| If I were/was a millionaire, |
I wouldn't take commercial airlines. |
If I were/was a millionaire, |
I couldn't get many tax breaks. |
If I could get my pilot's license, |
I wouldn't ever have to worry about catching a flight. |
QUESTION |
|
| If you were a millionaire, |
would you stop working? |
If you could choose, |
would you stop working? |
was / were – We often use were instead of was after if. Both was and were are used in formal English, but only was is used in informal English. If I were you... Were is a subjunctive verb form.
Mixing Time Frames
| PRESENT / FUTURE CONDITION | HYPOTHETICAL RESULTING ACTION |
|---|---|
After if, were (formal) or was (informal) is used for 1st and 3rd person singular. Either of the clauses on the left can be mixed with the clauses on the right. |
The resulting action is imaginary. Note that phrasing for present and future tense are the same. Also note "be going to" and "go" expressions (go shopping/ go fishing/ go swimming) can add to the confusion. |
a) If it were not going to rain soon. (hypothetical future – be going to) |
I would go shopping later today. (future hypothetical – will go) |
b) If it were not raining now. (hypothetical present – be ) |
I would be going shopping later today. (future progressive hypothetical – will be going) |
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I would be going shopping now. (present progressive hypothetical – am going) |
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I would go shopping now. (present progressive hypothetical – am going) |
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I would have gone shopping earlier. (past hypothetical - have gone) (The fact that it is raining now forced me to change earlier shopping plans.) |
PAST REAL (different!) |
PAST REAL |
If it didn't rain (past real) |
I went shopping on the weekends. (past – custom) See Real Conditions- Past |
Also see Mixed Tenses
Present & Past Hypotheticals
Expressions
| IF IT WAS/ WERE NOT FOR | IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR |
|---|---|
If it weren't for... is another way to say that one event changes everything. |
If it hadn't been for... is another way to say that one past event changed everything. |
If it wasn't/weren't for me, you wouldn't be here. (present hypothetical) |
If it hadn't been for his advice, I would have made the wrong decision. (past hypothetical) |
If it wasn't/weren't for all this homework that I have to do, I'd go with you. (present hypothetical) |
If it hadn't been for his advice, I wouldn't be here now. (mixed tense hypothetical) |
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If it hadn't been for your help, I would have been lost. (past hypothetical) |
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If it hadn't been for your help, I would still be working. (mixed tense hypothetical) |
Also see: Omitting If – Were I , Had I..., Should you...
Present & Future Hypotheticals
Expressions
| IF... WERE GOING TO | IF ... WAS/WERE TO |
|---|---|
Be going to can be used in the if-clause to express a future hypothetical situation or a polite request. |
A shortened form is used for the hypotheticals below. They use just the auxilary before an infinitive verb. |
If you were going to take a trip, where would you go? |
If you were to take a trip, where would you go? |
If the government was/ were going to legalize marijuana, it would have done so by now. |
If the government was/ were to legalize marijuana, it would have a great deal of difficulty. |
If you were [going] to stand a little to the left, I could see better. (polite request) |
If you were to stand a little to the left, I could see better. (polite request) |
If you were [going] to lend me a little money, I could buy a ticket. (polite request) |
If you were to lend me a little money, I could buy a ticket. (polite request) |
BUT NOT: If you were to be on time... / If you were to know the answer... (stative verbs) |
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was / were – We often use were instead of was after if. Both was and were are used in formal English, but only was is used in informal English. If I were you... Were is a subjunctive verb form.
Practice
Strategizing about the Management of a Restaurant
- Complete the sentence by selecting a result clause.
- An asterisk * indicates and incorrect choice.