Unit 39 · if and wish

if I knew … I wish I knew …

Study

Sarah wants to phone Paul, but she can’t do this because she doesn’t know his number. She says:

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I’d phone him if I knew his number.

(I’d phone = I would phone)

Sarah doesn’t know Paul’s number, so she says ‘if I knew’. She imagines what she would do if she knew his number.

When we imagine a situation like this, we use if + past (if I knew / if you were / if we didn’t etc.). But the meaning is present, not past:

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There are many things I’d like to do if I had more time. (but I don’t have time)

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If I didn’t want to go to the party, I wouldn’t go. (but I want to go)

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If you were in my position, what would you do?

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It’s a pity he can’t drive. It would be useful if he could.

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:

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I wish I knew Paul’s phone number.

(= I don’t know it and I regret this)

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Do you ever wish you could fly?

(you can’t fly)

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It’s very crowded here. I wish there weren’t so many people. (there are a lot of people)

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I wish I didn’t have to work tomorrow, but unfortunately I do.

Compare:

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I’m glad I live here. (I live here and that’s good)

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I wish I lived here. (I don’t live here unfortunately)

After if and wish, you can use were instead of was (if I were / I wish it were etc.). You can also use was. So you can say:

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If I were you, I wouldn’t buy that coat. or If I was you, …

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I’d go for a walk if it weren’t so cold. or … if it wasn’t so cold.

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I wish Anna were here. or I wish Anna was here.

We do not usually say ‘if … would’. We use would (’d) in the other part of the sentence:

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If I were rich, I would travel a lot. (not If I would be rich)

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Who would you ask if you needed help? (not if you would need)

In the same way we say:

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I wish I had something to read. (not I wish I would have)

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I wish she were here now. (not I wish she would be)

For ‘I wish … would …’ see Unit 41.

Could sometimes means ‘would be able to’ and sometimes ‘was/were able to’:

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She could get a better job (she could get = she would be able to get) if she could speak another language. (if she could speak = if she was able to speak)

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I wish I could help you. (I wish I could = I wish I was able)

could → Units 26–27 · if I do / if I did → Unit 38 · if I had known / I wish I had known → Unit 40 · wish → Unit 41

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked

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39.1

Put the verb into the correct form.

1
If I (I / know) his number, I would phone him.example
2
(I / not / buy) that coat if I were you.example
3
(I / help) you if I could, but I’m afraid I can’t.
4
This soup isn’t very nice. (it / taste) better if it wasn’t so salty.
5
We live in a city and don’t need a car, but we would need one if (we / live) in the country.
6
If we had the choice, (we / live) in the country.
7
I’d make a lot of changes if (I / be) the manager of the company.
8
I wouldn’t call someone in the middle of the night if (it / not / be) important.
9
If I were you, (I / not / wait). (I / go) now.
10
You’re always tired because you go to bed so late. If (you / not / go) to bed so late every night, (you / not / be) tired all the time.
11
I think there are too many cars. If (there / not / be) so many cars, (there / not / be) so much pollution.
12
We all need jobs and money, but what (you / do) if (you / not / have) to work?

39.2

Write a sentence with if … for each situation.

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.example
2
I like these shoes but they’re too expensive, so I’m not going to buy them.
I them if so expensive.
3
We’d like to go on holiday, but we can’t afford it.
We if .
4
It would be nice to have lunch outside but it’s raining, so we can’t.
We if .
5
I don’t want his advice, and that’s why I’m not going to ask for it.
If , I for it.

39.3

Write sentences beginning I wish … .

1
I don’t know many people (and I’m lonely).
I wish I knew more people.example
2
I don’t have much free time (and I need more).
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 find my phone (which is a problem).
7
I’m not feeling well (which isn’t good).
8
I have to get up early tomorrow (but I’d prefer to sleep late).
9
I don’t know much about science (and I should know more).

39.4

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 motorbike, more friends, lots of money etc.)
I wish I
3
(something you’d like to be able to do – sing, travel more, cook etc.)
I wish I
4
(something you’d like to be – famous, more intelligent, good at sport etc.)
I wish I