Warm-up

Let's see what comes to mind — no notes, and don't worry about mistakes.

You already know how to talk about real, likely plans. Complete this sentence:

"If I have time tomorrow, I (call) you."

SPEAK

Have a go out loud: say one real plan you have for tomorrow or this week, starting with "If..."

Listen in on this conversation

Jamie: What would you do if you won the lottery?

Priya: Honestly? I'd quit my job and travel for a year. What about you?

Look again at "won the lottery." Winning the lottery isn't something that's actually about to happen. So why does Jamie use "won" — a past form — when he's clearly asking about the future? Say your idea out loud before you check.

Check your idea CLICK
Because winning the lottery is unlikely, even imaginary — a daydream, not a real plan. English uses the past simple in the "if" part to signal "this isn't really going to happen, but let's imagine." It doesn't mean the past at all here. That's why this pattern is everywhere in daydreams, wishes, and giving advice.
Today: if + past simple, would + base verb — for dreams and unlikely things, plus knowing when to switch to "If I have time, I'll..." for things that could really happen, and how to give advice with "If I were you."

Daydreaming: "If I Won the Lottery"

For dreams, wishes and things that are unlikely or impossible right now.

Spot the pattern

Three everyday daydreams:

Before you check: what two ingredients appear in every sentence, and where does each one go?

Check the pattern CLICK
if + past simple (won, had, could) in the imagined condition, then would ('d) + base verb (buy, learn, choose) in the result. The past simple here doesn't mean the past — it signals "this is imagined or unlikely."
If + past simple, ... would ('d) + base verb

From real life to daydream

"I don't have a big garden, so I can't grow vegetables."
→
"If I had a big garden, I'd grow vegetables."

The daydream sentence doesn't say what's true now — it imagines something different.

Your turn

Complete each daydream. Type only the missing word or phrase.

1. Real life: you don't have a car, so you take the bus everywhere. Just imagine you did have one.

"If I a car, I'd drive to the coast every weekend."

2. Someone asks what you'd do with an extra hour every day.

"If I had an extra hour every day, I more books."

3. Real life: you don't know how to swim, so you stay in the shallow end. Just imagine you did know how.

"If I how to swim, I'd go in the deep end."

SPEAK

Say two things you'd do if you won a modest prize — enough for a great holiday, not millions. Start each one with "If I won..., I'd..."

Real Plan or Daydream? Choosing the Right One

Real life doesn't announce which pattern to use. You decide, based on how likely something really is.

Spot the pattern

What tells you which pattern to use — is it about something that could really happen, or something imagined?

Check the pattern CLICK
A real, likely plan uses if + present simple, will + base ("If I have time, I'll paint..."). A daydream or unlikely idea uses if + past simple, would + base ("If I had unlimited time, I'd travel..."). Ask yourself: could this genuinely happen soon, or am I just imagining?
Real, likely: if + present simple, will + base
Unlikely, imagined: if + past simple, would + base
Signal words help: "this weekend," "later," "tomorrow" usually point to a real plan. "If I were rich," "if I could," "if I ran the world" usually point to a daydream.

Your turn

1. Real possibility — the forecast says it might rain later today.

"If it later, we'll stay in and play cards."

2. Just imagine — you're not really the boss of the company. Total daydream.

"If I the company, I'd give everyone Fridays off."

3. A friend says: "Honestly, I doubt it'll happen, but... if I ___ a famous actor, I'd move to Los Angeles."

SPEAK

Say two things: one real plan for this weekend, and one daydream for a completely free weekend with no responsibilities. Use a different pattern for each.

Giving Advice: "If I Were You"

The classic pattern for advice — even though it's not really about you at all.

Spot the pattern

Same question as before: what's the structure?

Check the pattern CLICK
If I were you + would ('d) / wouldn't + base verb. Same pattern as a daydream — it's not really about "me," it's advice dressed up as an imagined situation. In fast speech people sometimes say "if I was you," but "if I were you" is the classic set phrase for advice.
If I were you, I'd / I wouldn't + base verb

Your turn

1. Your friend's phone contract is way too expensive and they won't stop complaining about it.

"If I you, I'd switch to a cheaper plan."

2. Your friend is nervous about asking for a pay rise.

"If I were you, I for a pay rise."

3. Your friend's shoes are completely falling apart, but they keep wearing them.

"If I were you, I'd some new shoes."

SPEAK

Think of one small problem a friend told you about recently (or invent one). Give spoken advice out loud: "If I were you, I'd..." Try two different pieces of advice.

Your Turn to Talk

Time to use today's pattern in one real daydream. You do the talking.

The situation

Pick one to imagine: you won a modest prize (enough for a great holiday, not millions), you could move to any country for a year, or you had one completely free month on full pay.

Talk about it out loud for one minute. Try to answer:

01:00

Now put it in writing

Write a short message (3–5 sentences) to a friend about your daydream. Use at least one "if + past simple, would" sentence, and try to include "If I were you" if you end up giving them advice too — the checker will tell you which patterns it finds.

Mix It Up

Real life doesn't tell you which pattern to use. Here everything is mixed — you decide.

Fix the mistakes

Each sentence has one grammar mistake. Rewrite the whole sentence correctly.

1. "If I would have more money, I'd buy a bigger flat."

2. "If I will get the job, I'd celebrate with my whole family."

3. "If I have more energy tonight, I'd go for a run."

4. "If I were you, I would to ask for a refund."

Which form fits?

5. This is a real, likely plan for tomorrow: "If the weather ___ nice tomorrow, we'll go to the beach."

6. Pure daydream: "If I ___ any superpower, I'd choose being invisible."

7. Giving advice: "You keep saying you're too tired to exercise. Honestly, if I ___ you, I'd go to bed an hour earlier."

SPEAK

One-minute challenge: describe your actual plans for next weekend (a real plan), then describe your dream holiday if money were no object (a daydream). Use the timer above if you like a bit of pressure.

What Do You Remember?

First, from earlier lessons

1. The "always true" pattern you knew before today — complete it: "If you heat ice, it ."

2. Say it out loud: what's different between "If it rains, I'll take an umbrella" and what you practised today? Give one reason you'd choose one over the other.

Compare with a possible answer CLICK
One possible answer: "If it rains, I'll take an umbrella" is a real, likely plan (if + present simple, will), because rain is genuinely possible. Today's pattern (if + past simple, would) is for things that are unlikely or purely imagined — a daydream, not a real plan.

Now, today's grammar — fresh sentences, no looking back

3. Just for fun — you don't actually have a boat. "If I a boat, I'd sail around the islands every summer."

4. Pure daydream — you can't really speak to animals. "If I speak to animals, I'd ask my dog what he's thinking."

5. Imagine, just imagine, you were mayor of your town. "If I were mayor, I a park in the town centre."

Think back

Which practice helped you most today — spotting the pattern, choosing between a real plan and a daydream, or giving advice with "If I were you"? Say why you think that one worked for you.

Can you now...?

At the start we said: if + past simple, would + base for dreams and unlikely things, plus choosing between real plans and daydreams, and giving advice. Tick what's true:

Anything you didn't tick — go back to that tab and try the exercises once more. They'll still check your answers.