If I Do … And If I Did …

A. Compare these examples:

• (1) LISA: Shall we take the bus or the train?
  JESS: If we take the bus, it will be cheaper.

For Jess, it is possible that they will take the bus, so she says:

• If we take the bus, it will be …

• (2) Lisa and Jess decide to take the train.
  Later, Jess talks to Joe. JOE: How are you going to travel?
  JESS: We’re going to take the train.  
  If we took the bus, it would be cheaper, but the train is quicker.  

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Language Level