Home of English Grammar

Grammar Guide
  • Home
  • Exercises
  • Rules
  • Test Yourself
  • Tools
    • Grammar Checker
    • Word Counter
  • Top Social Media Posts
  • Vocabulary
  • Writing Guides
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Lessons / If clauses: special points to note

If clauses: special points to note

February 2, 2012 - pdf

If …should

Sometimes we use should in the if-clause to suggest that something is very unlikely. Note that would is not used in this case.

If you should see James, tell him that he owes me 10 dollars. (You are not very likely to see James, but if you do, tell him that he owes me 10 dollars.)

If he should be late, we will have to go without him. (He is not very likely to be late, but if he is, we will have to go without him.)

If … happen to

If … happen to has a similar meaning to if … should.

If you happen to see James, tell him that he owes me a drink.

Should and happen to can be used together.

If you should happen to pass a supermarket, perhaps you could buy some fresh apples.

Note that we do not use would in the main clause in these structures. Instead, we use will.

If … was / were to

This is another structure used to talk about unreal or imaginary future events

If your Dad were to learn about this, he would throw you out the house.

What would you do, if you were to lose your job?

  • Share
  • Post
  • Post
  • Email
2,485,429 
735,807 

Grammar Checker

GrammarCheck.net - Try online
Hint → Bookmark GrammarCheck for future use.

Latest Exercises

  • Prepositions Exercise for ESL Students November 30, 2025
  • B1 Level Grammar Exercise November 29, 2025
  • ESL Grammar Exercise – Prepositions And Conjunctions November 28, 2025
  • Enough, Too, So November 27, 2025
  • Relative Pronouns And Adverbs Exercise November 24, 2025
  • Tenses in Subordinate Clauses ESL Grammar Exercise November 22, 2025
  • Gap Filling General Grammar Exercise November 21, 2025
  • Intermediate Level ESL Grammar Exercise Gap Filling November 20, 2025
  • Gerund vs. Infinitive ESL Grammar Exercise November 19, 2025

Copyright © 2025 · EnglishGrammar.org
Disclaimer · Privacy Policy · Sitemap