If I... I would...

What would you do if you found out the sky was falling? Would you tell anyone? Would you be scared? Maybe even a little... chicken?

Well, if I found out the sky was falling I would be really scared! What about you?
In this example, we are discussing about the possible results of aspecific condition:
Condition: the sky was falling
Result: I would be really scared.

We can use this structure either to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to be true or to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because it's not true. Maybe I'm imagining it or having a dream, for example. 

Take a look at some examples:

If I won the lottery, I would buy a Ferrari. (I probably won't win the lottery) Se eu ganhasse na loteria, eu compraria uma Ferrari.

If she didn't study, she would fail the exam.
Se ela não estudasse, ela reprovaria no exame.

If he were famous, he could travel around the world.
Se ele fosse famoso, ele poderia viajar ao redor do mundo.

If I had more time, I would study French.
Se eu tivesse mais tempo, eu estudaria Francês.

Sometimes, we use should, could or might instead of would, for example: 

If I won a million dollars, I could stop working. 
If you worked overtime, you might save more money.

We use 'were' for everybody. Some examples:

If I were rich, I would buy a boat.

If she were rich, she would buy a boat.

If they were rich, they would buy a boat.

We can also ask questions using this structure! Check it out!

If you could be an animal, what animal would you be?
Where would you go to if you had a boat?
If you could travel back in time, when would you go to?

And that's it! Now time to practice 8)

Katie Smith