Learn English – Type 2 conditional “If we liked to…” or “If we would like to…”

grammar

Normally, type 2 conditional follows syntax: If [simple past clause], [present conditional clause]. For example: If we had high accuracy, we would need a lot of processing power.

But is it possible to use "like" in simple past: If we liked to increase accuracy, we would need more processing power.

I tried to search these kind of expressions (if we liked … we would …) in internet, and I noticed that it is very very rare. However, there exist millions of expressions like: If we would like [to do something] we would [do something].

So, it seems like in case of "like" it is preferred to use "would" both in if clause and main clause:
If we would like to increase accuracy, we would need more processing power. But this is not according to type 2 conditional, or is it?

Best Answer

Since no one is interested to answer this, I try to answer myself according to the comments. It seems that both options are valid: "If we liked to ..." and "If we would like to ...". However, they have semantic difference: The former, "liked to", implies pleasure of doing something, and the latter, "would like to", implies desire to do something. In my case, the purpose was to express desire; therefore, the latter is the preferred option.

My only concern, which I still would like someone to give a definitive answer, is that to me this does not qualify as type 2 conditional, where the if-sentence should have only a simple past tense: "liked". Now both if- and main sentence include "would" conditional, that is against the rule: If we would like to increase accuracy, we would need more processing power.

So, if I really can use "would" conditional in both, why it is wrong to say: If I would have more money, I would buy a better car. Why "would like" is ok, but "would have" is not? Isn't there any logic in English? I suppose that is the reason why English people did not understand the original question either.

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