Sorry, I thought you were asking about why your answer was incorrect. I would agree with you as well as to why it wouldn't be "if they were".

Anyone else?

Can any expert help please?

In hypothetical conditions -
1) Present Tense Conditional (if clause) > Result - Future Tense.
2) Past Tense Conditional (if clause) > Result - "Would+Verb Root".

In this case, since result is not underlined and contains future tense (will), the if clause has to be in present tense.

So when do we use "if they were"? Can any expert help please?

So when do we use "if they were"? Can any expert help please?

1) Present Tense Conditional (if clause) > Result - Future Tense.
If the team wins the game, the coach will retire.
2) Past Tense Conditional (if clause) > Result - "Would+Verb Root".
If he won a million dollars, he would buy a yacht.

The use of word 'were' is very special in the case of abstract condition expresses uncertainty/unreality, subjunctive mood - you need to place 'were' instead of the verb 'to be' (or any version of to be - is,are,am,was), and the result will be followed by "Would+Verb Root"
for example -
The boxer would train harder if his coach were (was) forceful.
If I were (was) rich, I would donate money.

Remember that the use of 'were' in this case is regardless of the subject.

Hope that helps!!

George7 wrote:


Shouldn't the right answer be "If they were"? Shouldn't we use the past subjunctive? Thank you.

SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD: IF + PAST + WOULD.
Restorers say that if they WERE allowed to remove the varnish, the colors WOULD once again shine through.
Here, the subjunctive mood serves to indicate that the verbs are CONTRARY-TO-FACT.
The implication is that the restorers are NOT in fact allowed to remove the varnish, but if they WERE allowed to remove it -- hypothetically -- the colors WOULD once again shine through.

PRESENT CONDITIONAL: IF + PRESENT + WILL
Restorers say that if they ARE allowed to remove the varnish, the colors WILL once again shine through.
Here, the present conditional serves to indicate that the verbs are NOT contrary-to-fact.
Rather, if the given CONDITION is satisfied -- if the restorers ARE allowed to remove the varnish -- then what follows WILL in fact happen: the colors WILL once again shine through.

In the SC above, the non-underlined portion uses not would but WILL, implying the PRESENT CONDITIONAL.
Thus, the preceding IF-clause must say if they ARE allowed.

Use of If and Then..

IF Clause 1 in Present, then Clause 2 in Present/Future
IF Clause 1 in Past, Then Clause 2 in Past/Would verb
If Clasue 1 in Past Perfect, then Clause 2 in Would+been form of verb.

With the above, if we observe, in this sentence the clause 2 is in future form-- use of "will"

It means that the IF clause should be in present only. So it boils down to "If they are" and not "If they were".

Always watch out for the use of different tenses in the conditional sentences. You will nail it.

Hope it helps.