English grammar
If it rains, we'll… (real) vs if we had…, we'd… (imagined)
Tell the difference between a real possibility and an imagined one.
From the scene If it rains… if it rained…
In short
For something that could happen, use if + present, will. For something untrue, use if + past, would.
Your turn
Which one goes with real: if + present, will?
Options: if it's sunny, we'll have a drink · if it rains, we'll take umbrellas · if we had a car, we wouldn't get wet
Show answer
real: if + present, will → if it's sunny, we'll have a drink
How it works
For something that could really happen, use if + present, then will: if it rains, we'll take umbrellas.
Good to know
For something untrue or very unlikely, use if + past simple, then would: if we had a car, we wouldn't get wet. The two halves must match.
real: if + present, will if it rains, we'll take umbrellas
Javi
No problem. If it rains, we'll take umbrellas.
No pasa nada. Si llueve, llevamos paraguas.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
No problem. (blank).
Options: If it's sunny, we'll have a drink · If we had a car · If it rains, we'll take umbrellas
Show answer
Javi
No problem. If it rains, we'll take umbrellas.
No pasa nada. Si llueve, llevamos paraguas.
real: if + present, will if it's sunny, we'll have a drink
Javi
And if it's sunny, we'll have a drink here afterwards.
Y si hace sol, tomamos algo aquí después.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And (blank) here afterwards.
Options: if it rains, we'll take umbrellas · if we had a car, we wouldn't get wet · if it's sunny, we'll have a drink
Show answer
Javi
And if it's sunny, we'll have a drink here afterwards.
Y si hace sol, tomamos algo aquí después.
untrue: if + past, would if we had a car, we wouldn't get wet
Nuria
If we had a car, we wouldn't get wet.
Si tuviéramos coche, no nos mojaríamos.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank).
Options: If it rains, we'll take umbrellas · If it's sunny, we'll have a drink · If we had a car, we wouldn't get wet
Show answer
Nuria
If we had a car, we wouldn't get wet.
Si tuviéramos coche, no nos mojaríamos.
very unlikely: what if + past what if it rained like in Galicia?
Nuria
And what if it rained like in Galicia? A whole week!
¿Y si lloviera como en Galicia? ¡Una semana entera!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And (blank)? A whole week!
Options: what if it rained like in Galicia · if it rains, we'll take umbrellas · if it's sunny, we'll have a drink
Show answer
Nuria
And what if it rained like in Galicia? A whole week!
¿Y si lloviera como en Galicia? ¡Una semana entera!
Common mistake
Not rained or will rain here. Real, likely: matches we'll.
No problem. If it rains, we'll take umbrellas.
No pasa nada. Si llueve, llevamos paraguas.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| real: if + present, will | if it rains, we'll take umbrellas |
|---|---|
| real: if + present, will | if it's sunny, we'll have a drink |
| untrue: if + past, would | if we had a car, we wouldn't get wet |
| very unlikely: what if + past | what if it rained like in Galicia? |
More lines from the story
- JaviAnd if we had a car, we wouldn't have any money for the rent.Y si tuviéramos coche, no tendríamos dinero para el alquiler.
- JaviIn that case, we'd stay at home. But this is Madrid.En ese caso, nos quedaríamos en casa. Pero esto es Madrid.