A. Study this example situation:
Sue
wants to phone Paul but she can't do this because she doesn't know his number.
She says:
If I
knew his number, I would phone him.
Sue
says: If I knew his number... . This tells us that she doesn't know his number.
She is
imagining the situation. The real situation is that she doesn't know his
number.
When you
imagine a situation like this, you use if + past (if I knew/if you were/if we
didn't etc.). But the meaning is present, not past:
* Tom
would read more if he had more time. (but he doesn't have much time)
* If I
didn't want to go to the party, I wouldn't go. (but I want to go)
* We
wouldn't have any money if we didn't work. (but we work)
* If you
were in my position, what would you do?
* It's a
pity you can't drive. It would be useful if you could.
B. We
use the past in the same way after wish (I wish I knew/I wish you were etc.).
We use wish to say that we regret something, that something is not as we would
like it to be:
* I wish
I knew Paul's phone number. (= I don't know it and I regret this)
* Do you
ever wish you could fly? (you can't fly)
* It
rains a lot here. I wish it didn't rain so Often.
* It's
very crowded here. I wish there weren't so many people. (but there are a lot of
people)
* I wish
I didn't have to work. (but I have to work)
C.
After if and wish, you can use were instead of was (if I were I wish it were etc.). So you can say:
* If I
were you, I wouldn't buy that coat. or If I was you...
* I'd go
out if it weren't raining. or if it wasn't raining.
* I wish
it were possible. or I wish it was possible.
D. We
do not normally use would in the if-part of the sentence or after wish:
* If I
were rich, I would have a yacht. (not 'If I would be rich')
* I wish
I had something to read. (not 'I wish I would have')
Sometimes wish ... would is possible ('I wish you would listen'). See
Unit 40C.
E.
Note that could sometimes means 'would be able to' and sometimes 'was/were able
to':
* You
could get a job more easily. (you could get = you would be able to get)
if you could speak a foreign language. (you
could speak = you were able to speak)
EXERCISES
38.1 Put
the verb into the correct form.
1. If I
_knew_ his number, I would phone him. (know)
2. I
_wouldn't buy_ that coat if I were you. (not/buy)
3. I ---
you if I could, but I'm afraid I can't. (help)
4. We
would need a car if we --- in the country. (live)
5. If we
had the choice, we --- in the country. (live)
6. This
soup isn't very good. It --- better if it wasn't so salty. (taste)
7. I
wouldn't mind living in England if the weather --- better. (be)
8. If I
were you, --- (not/wait). I --- now. (go)
9.
You're always tired. If you --- to bed so late every night, you wouldn't be
tired all the time. (not/go)
10. I
think there are too many cars. If there --- so many cars (not/be), there --- so
much pollution. (not/be)
38.2
Write a sentence with If ... for each situation.
1. We
don't visit you very often because you live so far away.
_If you
didn't live so far away, we'd visit you more often._
2. He
doesn't speak very clearly--that's why people don't understand him.
If he ---
more --- people ---
3. That
book is too expensive, so I'm not going to buy it.
If the
book ---, I ---
4. We
don't go out very often because we can't afford it.
5. It's
raining, so we can't have lunch in the garden.
6. I
have to work tomorrow evening, so I can't meet you.
38.3
Write sentences beginning I wish ...
1. I
don't know many people (and I'm lonely).
_I wish
I knew more people._
2. I
don't have a key (and I need one). I wish ---
3. Ann
isn't here (and I need to see her).
4. It's
cold (and I hate cold weather).
5. I
live in a big city (and I don't like it).
6. I
can't go to the party (and I'd like to).
7. I
have to work tomorrow (but I'd like to stay in bed).
8. I
don't know anything about cars (and my car has just broken down).
9. I'm
not lying on a beautiful sunny beach (and that's a pity).
38.4
Write your own sentences beginning I wish ...
1.
(somewhere you'd like to be now--on the beach, in New York, in bed etc.)
I wish I
---
2.
(something you'd like to have--a computer, a job, lots of money etc.)
3.
(something you'd like to be able to do--sing, speak a language, fly etc.)
4.
(something you'd like to be--beautiful, strong, rich etc.)
the answer
38.1
3 would
help/'d help
4 lived
5 would
live/'d live
6 would
taste
7
was/were
8
wouldn't wait ... would go/'d go
9 didn't
go
10
weren't ... wouldn't be
38.2
2 If he
spoke more clearly, people would understand him.
3 If the
book wasn't/weren't so expensive, I'd buy it/I would buy it. or If the book
was/were cheaper, ...
4 If we
could afford it, we'd/we would go out more often.
5 If it
wasn't/weren't raining, we could have lunch in the garden.
6 If I
didn't have to work tomorrow evening, I could/I would/I'd meet you. or ... I'd
be able to meet you.
38.3
2 I had
a key.
3 I wish
Ann was/were here.
4 I wish
it wasn't/weren't (so) cold.
5 I wish
I didn't live in a big city.
6 I wish
I could go to the party.
7 I wish
I didn't have to work tomorrow.
8 I wish
I knew something about cars.
9 I wish
I was/were lying on a beautiful sunny beach.
38.4
Example answers:
1 I wish
I was at home.
2 I wish
I had a big garden.
3 I wish
I could tell jokes.
4 I wish
I was taller.
