Unit 39- Part A
She says:
If I knew his number, I would phone him.
Sarah 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.
Unit 39- Part B
• 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.
(there are a lot of people)
• I wish I didn’t have to work tomorrow, but unfortunately I do.
Unit 39- Part C
After if and wish, you can use were instead of was (if I were … / I wish it were etc.). I was / it was are also possible. 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 so cold. or … if it wasn’t so cold.
• I wish Carol were here. or I wish Carol was here.
Unit 39- Part D
• 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 41.
Unit 39- Part E
• You could get a better job (you could get = you would be able to get)
if you could use a computer. (you could use = you were able to use)
Exercises
{slide=1 Put the verb into the correct form.} Put the verb into the correct form.
{tooltip}Key.{end-link}3 ‘d help / would help
4 lived
5 ‘d live / would live
6 would taste
7 were/was
8 wouldn’t wait … ‘d go / would go
9 didn’t go
10 weren’t … wouldn’t be{end-tooltip}
1 If I knew (know) his number, I would phone him.
2 I wouldn’t buy (not / buy) that coat if I were you.
3 I _______________ (help) you if I could, but I’m afraid I can’t.
4 We would need a car if we _______________ (live) in the country.
5 If we had the choice, we _______________ (live) in the country.
6 This soup isn’t very good. It _______________ (taste) better if it wasn’t so salty.
7 I wouldn’t mind living in England if the weather _______________ (be) better.
8 If I were you, I _______________ (not /wait). I _______________ (go) now.
9 You’re always tired. If you _______________ (not / go) to bed so late every night, you wouldn’t be tired all the time.
10 I think there are too many cars. If there _______________ (not / be) so many cars, there _______________ (not / be) so much pollution.{/slide} {slide=2 Write a sentence with if … for each situation.}Write a sentence with if … for each situation.
{tooltip}Key.{end-link}2 I’d buy it / I would buy it if it weren’t/wasn’t so expensive. or … if it were/was cheaper.
3 We’d go out / We would go out more often if we could afford it.
4 If I didn’t have to work late, I could meet you tomorrow. or … I’d meet / I would meet… or … I’d be able to meet …
5 We could have lunch outside if it weren’t raining / wasn’t raining.
6 If I wanted his advice, I’d ask for it / I would ask for it.{end-tooltip}
1 We don’t see you very often because you live so far away.
If you didn’t live so far away, we’d see you more often.
2 This book is too expensive, so I’m not going to buy it.
I’d ____________________ if _____________________!
3 We don’t go out very often – we can’t afford it.
We _____________________________________________
4 I can’t meet you tomorrow – I have to work late.
If _____________________________________________
5 It’s raining, so we can’t have lunch outside.
_____________________________________________
6 I don’t want his advice, and that’s why I’m not going to ask for it.
If _____________________________________________ {/slide} {slide=3 Write sentences beginning I wish …} Write sentences beginning I wish … .
{tooltip}Key.{end-link}2 I wish I had a mobile phone.
3 I wish Helen were/was here.
4 I wish it weren’t/wasn’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 were feeling / was feeling better.{end-tooltip}
1 I don’t know many people (and I’m lonely). I wish I knew more people.
2 I don’t have a mobile phone (and I need one). I wish ________________________
3 Helen 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 feeling well (and it’s not nice). ________________________{/slide} {slide=4 Write your own sentences beginning I wish …}Write your own sentences beginning I wish …
{tooltip}Key.{end-link}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.{end-tooltip}
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.)
_______________________________ {/slide}
Unit 38 Unit 39 Unit 40 |