62. If clauses 

• Incorrect: If it rains we would cancel the match. 

• Correct: If it rains we will cancel the match.

 • Incorrect: If you hit the dog, it would bite you. 

• Correct: If you hit the dog, it will bite you. 

 When the verb in the if-clause is in the simple present tense, we use will/shall/ can/may + infinitive in the main clause. 

• Incorrect: If you studied hard, you will get a first class. 

• Correct: If you studied hard, you would get a first class. When the verb in the if-clause is in the simple past tense, we use would/should/ could/might + infinitive in the main clause. Sentences of these types are used to talk about purely imaginary situations.

 • Incorrect: If you had studied hard, you would get a first class.

 • Correct: If you had studied hard, you would have got a first class. When the verb in the main clause is in the past perfect tense, we use would/ should/could/might + have + past participle in the main clause.