Thread: не ходяй !

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

Originally Posted by Vadim84

(2) Ann says: If I found a wallet in the street, I'd take it to the police.

This is a different type of situation. Here, Ann is not thinking about a real possibility; she is imagining the situation and doesn't expect to find a wallet in the street. So she says: If I found..., I'd (=I would)... (not 'If I find..., I'll...')...

...But it is possible to say 'If... would' when you ask somebody to do something:
(from a formal letter) I would be grateful if you would send me your brochure ASAP (just my contraction ).
'Shall I close the door?' 'Yes, please, if you would.'


So what do you think about all this, guys?

I think your second example does not sound like English at all.

If I found - you can never say -> If I FIND / If I would find / If I had found

What are you saying, kalinka? You can never say "If I found"?

Well, I am sure that in the right context you can... I do see some google hits... But, "If I found a wallet on the street" doesn't sound right. At least to me, any other native speakers agree?

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

Well, I am sure that in the right context you can... I do see some google hits... But, "If I found a wallet on the street" doesn't sound right. At least to me, any other native speakers agree?

You use if+past when you imagine something and if+present when there's a real possibility.
If I found a wallet on the street, I would try to find out to whom it belongs -> imagined situation
If I find the wallet you've just lost, I will give it back to you -> real situation

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

Well, I am sure that in the right context you can... I do see some google hits... But, "If I found a wallet on the street" doesn't sound right. At least to me, any other native speakers agree?

If I found a wallet on the street, I would take it to the police.
Sounds ok to me. It sounds like a hypothetical situation.

If I find a wallet on the street, I would take it to the police.
This sounds ok also, but it sounds like I am expecting to find a wallet.

well, ok... maybe it is just me then...

"if I found" sounds good to me.

Anyway if I found a wallet in the street, I would most definitely NOT take it to the police