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Wonder123 Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

if you would or if you.

If you would look into this room you will see lots of gifts.
If you look into this room you will see lots of gifts.

What is the difference between two sentences? Please explain.
  

Top answer

The first sentence is incorrect, using a mismatch of tenses for a conditional sentence. If you look into this room, you will see lots of gifts. [ 1st level conditional ] If you looked (were to look) into this room, you would see lots of gifts.

— Philip

  • The first sentence is incorrect, using a mismatch of tenses for a conditional sentence.
  • If you look into this room, you will see lots of gifts.
  • [ 1st level conditional ] If you looked (were to look) into this room, you would see lots of gifts.
  • [ 2nd level conditional ] If you had looked into this room, you would have seen lots of gifts.
  • [ 3rd level conditional ]
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5 Answers
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The first sentence is incorrect, using a mismatch of tenses for a conditional sentence.
If you look into this room, you will see lots of gifts. [ 1st level conditional ]
If you looked (were to look) into this room, you would see lots of gifts. [ 2nd level conditional ]
If you had looked into this room, you would have seen lots of gifts. [ 3rd level conditional ]
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In this case "would" adds an extra nuance of invitation (often polite invitation).

(Addition) However, having seen Philip's reply, I should point out that this "would" is a conversational extra, and not a part of one of the standard conditional patterns, so the first sentence may be incorrect in the sense you were envisaging it.
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Learners are often told that 'will' and 'would' cannot be used in an if- clause. With the idea of 'be willing', they can be used, even in conditional clauses.
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