UNIT 38. If I knew ... I wish I knew ...

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

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)