Why Conditionals Feel Impossible

Conditionals are the sentences that start with "if," and they drive learners crazy because the tenses do not match what you expect. "If I were rich" — why not "was"? "If I had known" — why past perfect for a hypothetical?

Think of it this way: the further a situation is from reality, the further back in tense you go. Real possibility? Present tense: "If it rains, we'll cancel." Unlikely scenario? Past tense: "If it rained tomorrow, we'd cancel."