Use if + past and wish + past to imagine a present situation that is not true. The verb is past in form, though the meaning is now.
A Imagining the present: if I knew
Dylan has a ladder that his new neighbour wants to borrow. He would take it round, but he does not know which flat she lives in. He says:
I'd take it round if I knew which flat she was in.
Dylan does not know, so he says if I knew. He is imagining what he would do in a situation that is not real.
When we imagine a situation like this, we use if + past (if I knew, if you were, if we didn't and so on). The meaning is present, not past. The past form simply marks the situation as imaginary.
- I'd take it round if I knew which flat she was in.
- There are lots of places I'd visit if I had more money. (but I do not have more money)
- If I didn't like my job, I'd leave. (but I do like it)
- If you were me, what would you say to him?
- It's a shame Rhys can't swim. It would be handy if he could.
B wish + past: I wish I knew
We use the past in the same way after wish (I wish I knew, I wish you were and so on).
We use wish to say that we regret something, that something is not as we would like it to be.
| Sentence | What is true |
|---|---|
| I'm glad I work from home. | I work from home, and that is good. |
| I wish I worked from home. | I do not work from home, unfortunately. |
- I wish I knew which flat she was in. (I do not know, and I regret it.)
- Do you ever wish you were taller? (you are not)
- This café is so noisy. I wish the music wasn't so loud. (it is loud)
- I wish I didn't have to get up at five tomorrow, but I do.
- I'm glad I work from home.
- I wish I worked from home.
C were or was
After if and wish you can use were instead of was (if I were, I wish it were and so on). Was is also correct.
Were is a little more formal, and it survives very well in the phrase If I were you, which most people use when they are about to tell you what to do.
- If I were you, I'd ring the council. (or If I was you, ...)
- We'd eat outside if it weren't so windy. (or ... if it wasn't so windy.)
- I wish my sister were here. (or I wish my sister was here.)
D Not if ... would, not wish ... would have
We do not usually say if ... would. We use would ('d) in the other part of the sentence.
In the same way, after wish we use the past, not would have or would be.
For I wish ... would ..., see Unit 41.
- If I were taller, I would play basketball. (not If I would be taller)
- Who would you ring if your boiler broke down? (not if it would break down)
- I wish I had a car. (not I wish I would have a car)
- I wish Tom were here now. (not I wish Tom would be here)
E could in both halves
Could sometimes means would be able to and sometimes means was/were able to.
| Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Leon could get a job at the airport | Leon would be able to get a job there |
| if he could drive. | if he was able to drive |
| I wish I could come with you. | I wish I was able to come with you. |
- Leon could get a job at the airport if he could drive.
- I wish I could come with you, but I'm working.
Exercises
39.1 Put the verb into the correct form.
If I knew (I / know) the code, I would open the safe for you.
If I knew the code, I would open the safe for you.
I wouldn't sit (I / not / sit) on that bench if I were you. It's just been painted.
I wouldn't sit on that bench if I were you. It's just been painted.
(I / lend) you the money if I could, but I'm short myself this month.
I'd lend you the money if I could, but I'm short myself this month.
This tea isn't very nice. (it / taste) better if it wasn't so strong.
This tea isn't very nice. It would taste better if it wasn't so strong.
We live near the shops and don't need a car, but we would need one if (we / live) further out.
We live near the shops and don't need a car, but we would need one if we lived further out.
If we had the choice, (we / live) by the sea.
If we had the choice, we'd live by the sea.
I'd change a lot of things if (I / be) in charge of this school.
I'd change a lot of things if I was in charge of this school.
I wouldn't ring you at this hour if (it / not / be) urgent.
I wouldn't ring you at this hour if it wasn't urgent.
If I were you, (I / not / sign) that contract yet. (I / ask) a solicitor first.
If I were you, I wouldn't sign that contract yet. I'd ask a solicitor first.
You're always hungry at work because you skip breakfast. If (you / not / skip) breakfast, (you / not / be) starving by ten o'clock.
You're always hungry at work because you skip breakfast. If you didn't skip breakfast, you wouldn't be starving by ten o'clock.
There are too many lorries on this road. If (there / not / be) so many lorries, (it / not / be) so dangerous to cross.
There are too many lorries on this road. If there weren't so many lorries, it wouldn't be so dangerous to cross.
Everybody needs sleep, but what (you / do) with the extra hours if (you / not / need) to sleep?
Everybody needs sleep, but what would you do with the extra hours if you didn't need to sleep?
39.2 Write a sentence with if ... for each situation.
We don't go to the cinema very often because the tickets are so expensive. (If the tickets ...)
If the tickets weren't so expensive, we'd go to the cinema more often.
If the tickets weren't so expensive, we'd go to the cinema more often.
I like this sofa, but it's too big for our flat, so I'm not going to buy it. (I ... it if it ... so ...)
I'd buy it if it wasn't so big.
We'd like to move to a bigger house, but we can't afford it. (We ... if ...)
We'd move to a bigger house if we could afford it.
It would be nice to go for a swim, but the pool is closed, so we can't. (We ...)
We could go for a swim if the pool wasn't closed.
I don't need a lift, and that's why I'm not going to ask Darren for one. (If ...)
If I needed a lift, I'd ask Darren for one.
39.3 Write a sentence beginning I wish ... for each situation.
I don't know anybody in this town (and it's rather lonely).
I wish I knew somebody in this town.
I wish I knew somebody in this town.
I don't have a garden (and I'd love to grow vegetables).
I wish I had a garden.
Callum isn't here (and I need his help).
I wish Callum was here.
It's raining (and I want to hang the washing out).
I wish it wasn't raining.
I work nights (and I hate it).
I wish I didn't work nights.
I can't remember my password (which is a nuisance).
I wish I could remember my password.
I'm not very good at maths (which is a problem in my job).
I wish I was better at maths.
I have to go to a meeting this afternoon (but I'd rather go home).
I wish I didn't have to go to a meeting this afternoon.
I don't know much about cars (and mine keeps breaking down).
I wish I knew more about cars.
39.4 Write your own sentences beginning I wish ... .
Somewhere you would like to be now: on a beach, in Paris, in bed and so on. I wish I ...
Example answer: I wish I was on a beach in Cornwall.
Something you would like to have: a dog, a bigger kitchen, more time and so on. I wish I ...
Example answer: I wish I had a dog.
Something you would like to be able to do: sing, speak Welsh, ride a horse and so on. I wish I ...
Example answer: I wish I could speak Welsh.
Something you would like to be: braver, taller, good at chess and so on. I wish I ...
Example answer: I wish I was good at chess.