a. If you feel a real possibility: ‘If I ~’, ‘I'll ~ ‘can be used. When you imagine a situation, you use ‘if + past’ (if I knew/ if you were/ if we didn't etc.). But meaning is present, not past. (e.g. Tom would read more if he had more time. (but he doesn't have much time))
b. use the past in the same way after ‘wish’ (I wish I knew/ I wish you were etc.). We use ‘wish’ to say that we regret something, that something is not as we would like it to be. (e.g. I wish I knew Paul's phone number. (= I don't know it and I regret this))
c. After ‘if’ and ‘wish’, you can use were instead of was (if I were ~/ I wish it were etc.). I was/ it was are also possible (e.g. If I were you, I wouldn't buy that cost./ If I was, ~ .)
d. We do not normally use ‘would’ in the ‘if-part’ of the sentence or after ‘wish’. (e.g. If I were rich, I would have a yacht. (not if I would be rich))
e. 'could' sometimes means 'would be able to' and sometimes 'was/ were able to'. (e.g. You could get a better job if you could use a computer. (you could get = you would be able to get) (you could use = you were able to use))
Idiom 365
Scared out of his wits: very scared indeed
Example: The poor young man was scared out of his wits.