Dan likes fast cars, but he doesn't have one. He doesn't have enough money.
If he had the money, he would buy a fast car.
Usually had is past, but in this sentence had is not past. If he had the money = if he had the money now (but he doesn't have it).
You can say:
- If he had the money, he would buy a car. or He would buy a car if he had the money.
I'd / she'd / they'd etc. = I would / she would / they would etc:
- I don't know the answer. If I knew the answer, I'd tell you.
- It's raining, so we're not going out. We'd get wet if we went out.
- Jane lives in a city. She likes cities. She wouldn't be happy if she lived in the country.
- If you didn't have a job, what would you do? (but you have a job).
- I'm sorry I can't help you. I'd help you if I could. (but I can’t).
- If we had a car, we could travel more. (but we don't have a car, so we can't travel much).
If (I) was/were ...
You can say:
if I/he/she/it was or I wouldn't go out if I were you. if I/he/she/it were.
- It's not a very nice place. I wouldn't go there if I were you. (or ... if I was you).
- It would be nice if the weather was better. (or ... if the weather were better).
- What would Tom do if he were here? (or ... if he was here).
Compare:
If I have / if it is etc:
- I must go and see Helen. If I have time, I will go today. (= maybe I'll have time, so maybe I'll go).
- I like that jacket. I'll buy it if it isn't too expensive. (= maybe it will not be too expensive).
- I’ll help you if I can. (= maybe can).
if I had / if it was etc:
- I must go and see Helen. If I had time, I would go today. (= I don't have time today, so I will not go).
- I like this jacket, but it's very expensive. I'd buy it if it wasn't so expensive. (= it is expensive, so I'm not going to buy it).
- I’d help you if I could, but I can't.
Make the sentences:
1. I don't know the answer. If I knew the answer, I'd tell you.
2. have a car. I couldn't travel very much if I didn't have a car.
3. I don't want to go out. If I wanted to go out, I'd go.
4. We don't have a key. If we had a key, we could get into the house.
5. I'm not hungry. I would have something to eat if I were/was hungry.
6. Sue enjoys her work. She wouldn't do it if she didn't enjoy it.
7. He can't speak any foreign languages. If he could speak a foreign language, perhaps he would get a better job.
8. You don't try hard enough If you tried harder, you would have more success.
9. have a lot to do today. If I didn't have so much to do, we could go out.
Put the verb in the correct form:
1. If he had the money, he would buy a fast car. (he/have).
2. Jane likes living in a city. She wouldn’t happy if she lived in the country. (she/not/be).
3. If I wanted to learn Italian, I'd go / I would go to Italy. (I go).
4. I haven't told Helen what happened. She'd be angry if she knew (she/know).
5. If we had a map, I could show you where I live. (we/have).
6. What would you do if you won a lot of money? (you/win).
7. It's not a very good hotel I wouldn't stay there if I were you. (I/not/stay).
8. If we lived nearer London, we would go there more often. (we/live).
9. It's a shame you have to go now. It would be nice if you had more time. (it/be).
10. I’m not going to take the job. I'd take it if the salary was/were better. (the salary/be).
11. I don't know anything about cars. If the car broke down, I wouldn't know what to do. (I/not/know).
12. If you could change one thing in the world, what would you change? (you/change).
Make the sentences. Choose from the box and put the verb in the correct form:
1. I’d buy that jacket if it was a bit cheaper.
2. If there was a good film on TV tonight, I'd watch it / I would watch it.
3. This room would be nicer if we had some pictures on the wall.
4. If there wasn't so much traffic, the air would be cleaner.
5. Life would be boring if every day was/were the same.
6. If I had nothing to do, I'd be bored / I would be bored.
7. We could invite all our friends to stay if we had a bigger house / we bought a bigger house.
8. If we had more money, we would/could buy a bigger house or we would/could have a bigger house.
Make the sentences. Use your own ideas:
1. I’d be happier if I could get a better job.
2. If I could go anywhere in the world I'd go to Antarctica.
3. I wouldn't be very happy if I didn't have any friends.
4. I'd buy a house if I had enough money.
5. If I saw an accident in the street, I'd try and help.
6. The world would be a better place if there were no guns.
