That you need glasses, a grammar book, or both. ^^; Sorry!
I. "if" where the outcome of the if-clause is not known; where the if-clause describes the future
- If you get sick, call this number.
- If the USA beat Brazil, that would be awesome.
- If you become a millionaire, I will marry you.
II. "if" where the outcome of the if-clause is known; where the if-clause describes the past or present
- If you're sick, then lay down.
(a mother speaking to her son who has gotten dizzy from playing video games for too long)
- If the USA beat Brazil, they should have no trouble with France.
(a fan speaking to another fan about the likelihood of an American victory against the French, using America's defeat of the Brazilians as back-up for his argument)
- If Dad's dead, then what's gonna happen to us?
(a daughter speaking to her mother about their fate now that their father is dead)
I was using the second kind of 'if,' but you mistook it for the first.
And this is a mistake I would not have thought likely of a native speaker. ^^;
Sorry? ^^;
EDIT: Japanese explanation follows.
[hide]The Japanese appreciate this difference, as well. It's why they have so many different ways of saying "if"!
They would say ーたら or ー(れ)ば for the first category. They would say なら(ば) or ー(れ)ば for the second category.
For example, the sentence 野菜を洗ったらちゃんと洗いなさい ("If/When you wash vegetables, wash them thoroughly") would never be mistaken semantically for 野菜を洗うなら、ちゃんと洗いなさい ("If you're going to wash [those] vegetables [and I clearly see that you are], then [at least be sure to] wash them properly.") The meaning behind the two sentences is completely different even though they only differ in their choice of "if" (-たら vs. なら). One sentence is more of a general guideline for future occurences; the other is a speaker offering frank advice to somebody he
knows is about to wash or is even already in the act of washing the vegetables.
Which is why I tried explaining in Japanese. ^^;[/hide]