A. Study this example situation:
Last
month Gary was in hospital for an operation. Liz didn't know this, so she
didn't go to visit him. They met a few days ago. Liz said:
If I had
known you were in hospital, I would have gone to visit you.
Liz
said: If I had known you were in hospital... . The real situation was that she
didn't know he was in hospital.
When you
are talking about the past, you use if + had ('d) ... (if I had known/been/done
etc.):
* I
didn't see you when you passed me in the street. If I'd seen you, of course I
would have said hello. (but I didn't see you)
* I
decided to stay at home last night. I would have gone out if I hadn't been so
tired. (but I was tired)
* If he
had been looking where he was going, he wouldn't have walked into the wall.
(but he wasn't looking)
* The
view was wonderful. If I'd had a camera, I would have taken some photographs.
(but I didn't have a camera)
Compare:
* I'm
not hungry. If I was hungry, I would eat something. (now)
* I
wasn't hungry. If I had been hungry, I would have eaten something. (past)
B. Do
not use would in the if-part of the sentence. We use would in the other part of
the sentence:
* If I
had seen you, I would have said hello. (not 'If I would have seen you')
Note
that 'd can be would or had:
* If I'd
seen you, (I'd seen = I had seen)
I'd have
said hello. (I'd have said = I would have said)
C. We
use had (done) in the same way after wish. I wish something had happened = I am
sorry that it didn't happen:
* I wish
I'd known that Gary was ill. I would have gone to see him. (but I didn't know)
* I feel
sick. I wish I hadn't eaten so much cake. (I ate too much cake)
* Do you
wish you had studied science instead of languages? (you didn't study science)
* The
weather was cold while we were away. I wish it had been warmer.
Do not
use would have... after wish in these sentences:
* I wish
it had been warmer. (not 'I wish it would have been')
D.
Compare would (do) and would have (done):
* If I
had gone to the party last night, I would be tired now. (I am not tired
now--present)
If I had
gone to the party last night, I would have met lots of people. (I didn't meet
lots of people--past)
Compare
would have, could have and might have:
* If the
weather hadn't been so bad, we would have gone out.
* If the
weather hadn't been so bad, we could have gone out. (= we would have been able
to go out)
* If the
weather hadn't been so bad, we might have gone out. (=perhaps we would have
gone out)
EXERCISES
39.1 Put
the verb into the correct form.
1. I
didn't know you were in hospital. If I'd known (I/know), I would have gone
(I/go) to visit you.
2. Ken
got to the station in time to catch his train. If, --- (he/miss) it --- (he/be)
late for his interview.
3. It's
good that you reminded me about Ann's birthday. --- (I/forget)if ---
(you/not/remind) me.
4.
Unfortunately, I didn't have my address book with me when I was in New York. If
--- (I/have) your address, --- (I/send) you a postcard.
5. A:
How was your holiday? Did you have a nice time?
B: It
was OK, but --- (we/enjoy) it more if --- (the weather/be) better.
6. I
took a taxi to the hotel but the traffic was very bad. --- (it/be) quicker if
--- (I/walk).
7. I'm
not tired. If --- (I/be) tired, I'd go home now.
8. I
wasn't tired last night. If --- (I/be) tired, I would have gone home earlier.
39.2
Write a sentence with if for each situation.
1. I
wasn't hungry, so I didn't eat anything.
_If I'd
been hungry, I would have eaten something._
2. The
accident happened because the driver in front stopped so suddenly.
If the
driver in front ---
3. I
didn't know that George had to get up early, so I didn't wake him up.
if I ---
4. I was
able to buy the car only because Jim tent me the money.
5.
Margaret wasn't injured in the crash because she was wearing a seat belt.
6. You
didn't have any breakfast - that's why you're hungry now.
7. I
didn't get a taxi because I didn't have any money on me.
39.3
Imagine that you are in these situations. For each situation, write a sentence
with I wish ...
1.
You've eaten too much and now you feel sick.
You say:
_I wish I hadn't eaten so much._
2. There
was a job advertised in the newspaper. You decided not to apply for it. Now you
think that your decision was wrong.
You say:
I wish I ---
3. When
you were younger, you didn't learn to play a musical instrument. Now you regret
this.
You say:
---
4.
You've painted the gate red. Now you think that it doesn't look very nice.
You say:
---
5. You
are walking in the country. You would like to take some photographs but you
didn't bring your camera.
You say:
---
6. You
have some unexpected guests. They didn't tell you they were coming. You are
very busy and you are not prepared for them.
You say
(to yourself): ---
the answer
39.1
2 he'd
missed/he had missed ... he would have been/he'd have been
3 I
would have forgotten/I'd have forgotten ... you hadn't reminded
4 I'd
had/I had had ... I'd have sent/I would have sent
5 we'd
have enjoyed/we would have enjoyed ... the weather had been
6 It
would have been ... I'd walked / I had walked
7 I
was/I were
8 I'd
been tired/I had been tired
39.2
2 If the
driver in front hadn't stopped so suddenly, the accident wouldn't have
happened.
3 If
I'd/I had known that George had to get up early, I'd/I would have woken him up.
4 If Jim
hadn't lent me the money, I wouldn't have been able to buy the car. or ... I
couldn't have bought the car.
5 If
Margaret hadn't been wearing a seat belt, she'd/she would have been injured.
6 If you'd/you had had (some) breakfast, you
wouldn't be hungry now.
7 If
I'd/I had had some money on me, I'd/I would have got a taxi.
39.3
2 I wish
I'd/I had applied for it. or ... for the job.
3 I wish
I'd/I had learned to play a musical instrument.
4 I wish
I hadn't painted it red./... painted the gate red.
5 I wish
I'd/I had brought my camera.
6 I wish
they'd/they had told me they were coming. or I wish I'd/I had known they were
coming.
