How do we use the conditionals in English?

[Guest]

Hi

1. I have confused about this :

why it is correct

"If I were you, I'd tell him"

not

"If I was you, I'd tell him"

Can you help me?

2. What are the difference between a) with b) and c) with d) ?

a) Could you please tell me how to get to Almond Street
b) Would you please tell me how to get to Almond Street

and
c)You could try asking the bus driver to help you.
d)You could try to ask the bus driver to help you.

3)Is the ( if,probably,perhaps )'s meaning and use are same ?

please I need some help

Kate from Hong Kong

[Alan]

Hi Kate,

I think you might get some use out of a piece I've written on conditionals on this site. If you got to esl lessons and look through the index, you should see the word Conditionals in the index.

You also ask about this:

. What are the differences between a) with b) and c) with d) ?

a) Could you please tell me how to get to Almond Street
b) Would you please tell me how to get to Almond Street

and
c)You could try asking the bus driver to help you.
d)You could try to ask the bus driver to help you.

3)Is the ( if,probably,perhaps )'s meaning and use are same ?
A and B are roughly the same. There is a a slight different between try to do something, which means make an effort to do something and try doing something, which means try something as an experiment. Look at these two sentences:

You must try to learn these new words if you want to increase your vocabulary.

If you want to lose weight, try doing some exercise each day.

Hope this helps Alan
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