8.34 unlikely situations

When you are talking about an unlikely situation, you use the simple past tense in the conditional clause, and 'would', 'should', or 'might' in the main clause.

• The older men would find it difficult to get a job if they left the farm.
• I should be surprised if it was less than five pounds.
• If I frightened them, they might take off and I would never see them again.

In the conditional clause, 'were' is sometimes used instead of 'was', especially after 'I'.

• If I were as big as you, I would kill you.
• If I were asked to define my condition, I'd say 'bored'.