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Contrary-to-fact Sentences

If is often used to talk about situations that are contrary to the fact, (situations that are opposite of the true situation). Contrary-to-fact sentences with an if-clause and a result-clause are calld conditional sentences. Special verb forms are used with conditional sentences. The simple past tense is used to discuss a present or future situation in the if-clause; would or could plus the simple form of the verb is used in the result-clause.

True Situation:
(a) I don't have any money.

Making a wish:
(b) I wish I had some money.

Using IF:
(c) If I had enough money, I would buy a car.
(d) If I had enough money, I could buy a car.

True Situation:
(a) The weather isn't nice today.

Making a wish:
(b) I wish the weather were nice today.

Using IF:
(c) If the wather were nice today, I would go to the park.
(d) If the wather were nice today, I could go to the park.

if-clause	result-clause
(i) If I had enough money,	I would buy a car.
result-clause	if-clause
(j) I would go to the park	if the weather were nice.

In (i) and (j), the speakers are talking about a present situation (not having money) and the weather not being nice) and a future situation that is contrary to the fact. In both the simple past is used in the if-clause.

(k) If I had enough money, I would but a car.
(the speaker wants to buy a car.)

(l) If I had enough money, I could buy a car.
(The speaker is expressing a possibility.)

Would is used to express a desired result. (What the speaker wants.)
Could is used to express possible options. (Could = would be able to.)

(m) If the weather were nice, I'd go to the park.
(n) If I were you, I wouldn't do that.

In (m) and (n), were (not was) is used for singular subjects in the if-clause.

Ture vs. Contrary-to-Fact

True Situation:

(a) If you need some money, I will lend you some.
or) If you need some money, I can lend you some.

(simple present)

Contart-to-Fact Situation:

(b) If you needed some money, I would lend you some.
or) If you needed some money, I could lend you some.

(simple past)

In (a): If it is true that you need some money, I will ( or can) lend you some.

In (b): In truth, you really don't need any money. But if the opposite were true, I would (or could) lend you some.