Conditional Sentences expressing a condition which cannot be fulfilled in the present, i.e. at the moment of speaking, or the possibility of which is unlikely to be fulfilled.
In English, conditional sentences expressing a condition in the present are in the simple past tense – should / would + infinitive :
| If | + | past tense | – | should would |
+ inf |
| If | I had money | I should | go |
Examples
If I had money, I shall go to South Africa.
If he finished job now, he would tell us what to do
If I accepted this offer, what would you think ?
If she wasn’t so busy, she would play with us.
They wouldn’t be in difficulty if they took you advice now.
If I got the chance, I should go to Australia.
