THE FORMS OF IF CLAUSES
IF CLAUSE TYPE I:
MAIN CLAUSE IF CLAUSE
FUTURE PRESENT / PRESENT PERFECT
ex. I will go shopping if the weather is fine
IF CLAUSE TYPE II:
MAIN CLAUSE IF CLAUSE
PRESENT CONDITIONAL PAST TENSE
[would / could / should /
might,,, + vb ]
might,,, + vb ]
ex. I would go shopping if the weather were / was fine
IF CLAUSE TYPE III:
MAIN CLAUSE IF CLAUSE
PAST CONDITIONAL PAST PERFECT
[would have /could have/
might have/should have,,, +
3rd vb]
Conclusions:
Type I - condition possible
Type II - condition in theory possible
Type III - condition not possible
More examples:
1. If I were you, I wouldn`t do that. - type II
Note: The form were of the verb be is usually used with all persons when speaking about If Clauses, Wish, Subjunctive,,,
Was is not wrong in these cases [ for the first and third persons, but it is informal ]
2. If she thinks she`s right, she`ll do that research on her own, anyway. - type I
3. She would go to the seaside if she had more money. - type II
4. I would have met him if he had agreed on my plan - type III