CONTRARY-TO-FACT in ​the Present/Future

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​CONTRARY-TO-FACT in the Present/Future

​If is often used to talk about situations that are contrary to fact, i.e. situations that are the opposite of the true situation.

​TRUE SITUATION: (a) I don't have enough money.

​MAKE A WISH: (b) I wish I had enough money.

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​USING IF:

(c) If I had enough money, I would buy a car.

​(d) If I had enough money, I could buy a car.

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​If I had enough money, I would buy a car.

​Contrary-to-fact sentences with an "if-clause" and "result clause" are called conditional sentences.

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​Special verb forms are used.

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​The SIMPLE PAST TENSE is used to discuss a present or future situation in an "if-clause"

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​Would or could is used in the result clause.

IF-CLAUSE​ :

simple past tense​

RESULT CLAUSE :​

would / could + simple form (root word)​