"if") is "he weren't so forgetful."
There are two main types of conditional sentences: real and unreal. Real conditional sentences refer to situations that are either true or possible. Unreal conditionals refer to situations that are untrue, impossible or hypothetical; conditional sentences of this type are often described as being contrary to fact.
Let's look at more information on unreal conditionals.
Unreal Conditionals - 4
There are several types of unreal conditional sentences. They differ according to the time that they refer to, but they are the same in one way: the situations that they show are unreal, hypothetical, and contrary to fact.
Unreal conditionals may be used for situations in present / future time, past time, or mixed times. There are several types of mixed-time unreal conditionals. One has the condition in the past and the result in the present or future. Another has the condition in general time and the result in past time:
If she weren't so lazy, she would've finished her work several days ago. / She would've finished her work several days ago if she weren't so lazy.
(She didn't finish her work several days ago because she's very lazy.)
If I needed help, I would've hired a maid. / I would've hired a maid if I needed help.
(I didn't want to hire a maid because I don't need help.)
If she rode more quickly, he would've arrived several hours ago. / She would've arrived several hours ago if she rode more quickly.
(She didn't arrive several hours ago because she doesn't ride quickly.)
If John's family were rich, he wouldn't have needed to get a part-time job. / John wouldn't have needed to get a part-time job if his family were rich.
(John's family isn't rich, so he needed to get a part-time job.)
Extra Notes:
In all the sentences above, the condition is in general time; it shows a situation that is a fact, a habit, or a continuing situation. The results, in the sentences above, are in the past--but they could also be in the present or future:
If she weren't so lazy, she would've finished her work several days ago. / She would've finished her work several days ago if she weren't so lazy.
If she weren't so lazy, she would finish his work on time. / She would finish his work on time if she weren't so lazy.
If she weren't so lazy, she would finish her work this week instead of sometime next month.
If she rode more quickly, she would've arrived several hours ago. / She would've arrived several hours ago if she rode more quickly.
If she rode more quickly, she would arrive on time. / She would arrive on time if she rode more quickly.
If she rode more quickly, she would arrive later this morning instead of this afternoon. / She would arrive later this morning instead of this afternoon if she rode more quickly.
Conditional Sentences - 1
Conditional Sentences - 2
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