Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 40 · B2

if I had known ... I wish I had known ...

Use if + had done and wish + had done to imagine the past differently. The other half of an if-sentence takes would have done, could have done or might have done.

Start the lesson

14Steps · about 26 minutes

In this lesson

Imagining the past: if I had knownA4 screens of questions
Not if ... would haveB1 screen of questions
wish + had doneC2 screens of questions
would do and would have done; could have and might haveD1 screen of questions

Point A of 4

Imagining the past: if I had known

Last week Imran was off work with flu. His friend Shona did not know. Yesterday she bumped into him in the supermarket and said:

If I'd known you were ill, I would have brought you some soup.

If I'd known is short for If I had known. It tells us she didn't know at the time, so no soup arrived.

For the past, the if part takes had ('d) + past participle (if I'd known, if you'd done and so on), and the other part takes would have + past participle.

Present and past side by side:

Time Sentence
Now I'm not cold. If I was cold, I'd put a jumper on.
Past I wasn't cold. If I had been cold, I would have put a jumper on.
  • If I'd known you were ill, I would have brought you some soup.
  • I didn't spot you at the concert. If I'd noticed you, I'd have said hello.
  • They didn't go to the barbecue. They would have gone if they hadn't been so busy. (but they were busy)
  • If you'd been concentrating, you wouldn't have missed the turning. (but you were not concentrating)
  • The rainbow was incredible. I'd have taken a photo if I'd had (= if I had had) a camera on me.

Point A · Exercise 40.1 · part 1 of 2

Put the verb into the correct form.

  1. Example

    I didn't know you were coming. If I'd known (I / know), I'd have made (I / make) a cake.

    AnswerI didn't know you were coming. If I'd known, I'd have made a cake.

  2. Josh reached the stop just as the last bus arrived. If (he / miss) the bus, (he / have) to walk home.

  3. Thanks for the reminder about Mum's birthday. (I / forget) if (you / not / mention) it.

  4. I didn't have your address, so I couldn't send you a card. If (I / have) your address, (I / send) you one.

  5. The concert was all right, but (it / be) better if the sound (not / be) so muddy.

Point A · Exercise 40.1 · part 2 of 2

Put the verb into the correct form.

  1. Sorry I'm late. The bus took ages. (it / be) quicker if (I / cycle).

  2. Why didn't you ask me for a lift? If (you / ask) me, (I / pick) you up.

  3. I'm not busy at the moment. If (I / be) busy, I'd tell you.

  4. I wasn't busy yesterday. If (I / be) busy, I would have told you.

Point A · Exercise 40.2 · part 1 of 2

Write a sentence beginning with If for each situation.

  1. Example

    I wasn't tired, so I didn't go to bed early.

    If I'd been tired, I would have gone to bed early.

    AnswerIf I'd been tired, I would have gone to bed early.

  2. The crash happened because the driver was going too fast. (If the driver ...)

  3. I didn't know you were vegetarian, so I didn't make a vegetarian dish. (If I ...)

  4. Unfortunately my battery died, so I couldn't ring you.

  5. Megan wasn't hurt when she fell off her bike, because luckily she was wearing a helmet.

Point A · Exercise 40.2 · part 2 of 2

Write a sentence beginning with If for each situation.

  1. You didn't sleep last night. That's why you're tired now.

  2. I didn't buy the jacket because I didn't have enough money.

  3. Sam didn't pass his driving test, so he couldn't drive to the festival.

Point B of 4

Not if ... would have

If something would have happened is wrong. would goes in the other half.

The short form 'd stands for had or would; what follows it shows which:

Short form Full form
If I'd seen you, If I had seen you,
I'd have come over. I would have come over.
  • If I had noticed you, I would have waved. (not If I would have noticed you)
  • If I'd seen you, I'd have come over.

Point B · Extra practice

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

  1. If I you, I would have waved. (notice)

  2. If you'd told me, I . (help)

  3. If we earlier, we wouldn't have missed the train. (leave)

Point C of 4

wish + had done

We use had done / had known / had been and so on in the same way after wish.

Sentence Meaning
I wish something had happened. I am sorry that it did not happen.
I wish something hadn't happened. I am sorry that it happened.

We do not say wish ... would have. Write I wish it had been quieter, not I wish it would have been quieter.

  • I wish I'd known Imran was ill. I'd have brought him some soup. (but I did not know)
  • I've got a headache. I wish I hadn't drunk so much coffee. (I drank too much)
  • Do you wish you'd gone to university? (you did not go)
  • I'm glad I went to the concert. (I went)
  • I wish I'd gone to the concert. (I did not go)
  • The flat was freezing. I wish the heating had worked. (not I wish the heating would have worked)

Point C · Exercise 40.3 · part 1 of 2

Imagine that you are in each situation. Write a sentence with I wish.

  1. Example

    You stayed up far too late and now you are exhausted. You say:

    I wish I hadn't stayed up so late.

    AnswerI wish I hadn't stayed up so late.

  2. When you were at school, you never learned to swim. Now you regret this. You say:

  3. You've had your hair cut very short. Now you think it doesn't suit you. Short was the wrong choice. You say:

  4. You drove to the festival and sat in traffic for three hours. The train would have been far quicker. (I wish we ...)

  5. Last spring you spent a weekend in Rome. There was so much you didn't manage to see. You say:

Point C · Exercise 40.3 · part 2 of 2

Imagine that you are in each situation. Write a sentence with I wish.

  1. You bought an expensive phone a few months ago. Now you think buying it was a waste of money. You say:

Point D of 4

would do and would have done; could have and might have

After if I'd done, the other part of the sentence can be about the present (would do) or about the past (would have done).

In the past, would have can be replaced by could have or might have:

Form Meaning
would have gone we would certainly have gone
could have gone we would have been able to go
might have gone perhaps we would have gone
  • If I'd taken the job in London, I would be living there now. (present: I am not living there)
  • If I'd taken the job in London, I would have earned a lot more. (past: I did not earn more)
  • If the trains hadn't been on strike, we would have gone to the match.
  • If the trains hadn't been on strike, we could have gone to the match.
  • If the trains hadn't been on strike, we might have gone to the match.

Point D · Extra practice

Put in would, could or might with the verb in brackets. Sometimes more than one is right.

  1. If I'd taken the job in London, I there now. (live)

  2. If the trains hadn't been on strike, we to the match. (go)

  3. If I'd known you were ill, I round. (come)

Lesson 40 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: wishBack to the course

–Right

Each point

A. Imagining the past: if I had known–Not checkedB. Not if ... would have–Not checkedC. wish + had done–Not checkedD. would do and would have done; could have and might have–Not checked

Practise the words

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