Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 39 · B2

if I knew ... I wish I knew ...

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.

Start the lesson

17Steps · about 33 minutes

In this lesson

Imagining the present: if I knewA4 screens of questions
wish + past: I wish I knewB3 screens of questions
were or wasC1 screen of questions
Not if ... would, not wish ... would haveD1 screen of questions
could in both halvesE1 screen of questions

Point A of 5

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 doesn't know, so he says if I knew. He is picturing what he would do in a situation that isn't real.

Imaginary situations like this take if + past (if I knew, if you were, if we didn't and so on). The time is now, not the past; the past form is simply the sign that the situation is imagined.

  • 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.

Point A · Exercise 39.1 · part 1 of 3

Put the verb into the correct form.

  1. Example

    If I knew (I / know) the code, I would open the safe for you.

    AnswerIf I knew the code, I would open the safe for you.

  2. Example

    I wouldn't sit (I / not / sit) on that bench if I were you. It's just been painted.

    AnswerI wouldn't sit on that bench if I were you. It's just been painted.

  3. (I / lend) you the money if I could, but I'm short myself this month.

  4. This soup is too salty. (it / taste) nicer with less salt in it.

  5. We walk everywhere at the moment, but we'd need a car if (we / move) out to the country.

  6. If we had the choice, (we / live) by the sea.

Point A · Exercise 39.1 · part 2 of 3

Put the verb into the correct form.

  1. I'd change a lot of things if (I / be) in charge of this school.

  2. I wouldn't ring you at this hour if (it / not / be) urgent.

  3. If I were you, (I / not / sign) that contract yet. (I / ask) a solicitor first.

  4. You're always hungry at work because you skip breakfast. If (you / not / skip) breakfast, (you / not / be) starving by ten o'clock.

Point A · Exercise 39.1 · part 3 of 3

Put the verb into the correct form.

  1. There are too many lorries on this road. If (there / not / be) so many lorries, (it / not / be) so dangerous to cross.

  2. Everybody needs sleep, but what (you / do) with the extra hours if (you / not / need) to sleep?

Point A · Exercise 39.2

Write a sentence with if ... for each situation.

  1. Example

    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.

    AnswerIf the tickets weren't so expensive, we'd go to the cinema more often.

  2. 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 ...)

  3. We'd like to move to a bigger house, but we can't afford it. (We ... if ...)

  4. It would be nice to go for a swim, but the pool is closed, so we can't. (We ...)

  5. I don't need help with the move, so I won't ask Darren. (If ...)

Point B of 5

wish + past: I wish I knew

wish works the same way: it is followed by a past form (I wish I knew, I wish you were and so on).

wish expresses regret: things are not the way we'd like them.

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.

Point B · Exercise 39.3 · part 1 of 2

Write a sentence beginning I wish ... for each situation.

  1. Example

    I don't know anybody in this town (and it's rather lonely).

    I wish I knew somebody in this town.

    AnswerI wish I knew somebody in this town.

  2. I don't have a garden (and I'd love to grow vegetables).

  3. Callum isn't here (and I need his help).

  4. It's raining (and I want to hang the washing out).

  5. I work nights (and I hate it).

Point B · Exercise 39.3 · part 2 of 2

Write a sentence beginning I wish ... for each situation.

  1. I can't remember my password (which is a nuisance).

  2. I'm not very good at maths (which is a problem in my job).

  3. I have to go to a meeting this afternoon (but I'd rather go home).

  4. I don't know much about cars (and mine keeps breaking down).

Point B · Exercise 39.4

Write your own sentences beginning I wish ... .

  1. Somewhere you would like to be now: on a beach, in Paris, in bed and so on. I wish I ...

  2. Something you would like to have: a dog, a bigger kitchen, more time and so on. I wish I ...

  3. A skill you'd love to have: juggling, knitting, playing the bagpipes and so on. I wish I ...

  4. Something you would like to be: braver, taller, good at chess and so on. I wish I ...

Point C of 5

were or was

After if and wish, were can replace was (if I were, I wish it were and so on). was is fine too.

were sounds a touch more formal. It lives on most comfortably in If I were you, usually just before someone tells 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.)

Point C · Extra practice

Put in were or was. Sometimes both are right.

  1. If I you, I'd ring the council.

  2. We'd eat outside if it so windy.

  3. I wish my brother here.

Point D of 5

Not if ... would, not wish ... would have

if ... would is not the usual pattern. would ('d) goes in the other half of the sentence.

Likewise, wish takes the past, not would have or would be.

I wish ... would ... is a separate pattern, covered in 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)

Point D · Extra practice

Put the verb in brackets into the right form. Do not use would after if or wish.

  1. If I taller, I'd play basketball. (be)

  2. I wish I a car. (have)

  3. Who would you ring if your boiler down? (break)

Point E of 5

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.

Point E · Extra practice

Put in could.

  1. Leon get a job at the airport if he could drive.

  2. I wish I come with you, but I'm working.

  3. If I speak French, I'd live in Paris.

Lesson 39 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: if I had known ... I wish I had known ...Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. Imagining the present: if I knew–Not checkedB. wish + past: I wish I knew–Not checkedC. were or was–Not checkedD. Not if ... would, not wish ... would have–Not checkedE. could in both halves–Not checked

Practise the words

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