Compare examples:

(t) lisa has lost her watch. She tells Sue:

lISA: I've lOSt my watch. Have you seen it anywhere?
SUE: No, but if I find it, I'll tell you.
In this example, Sue feels there is a rcal possibility that she will find the watch. So she saYS:
_--'-if_'--'fin--'d--'o_00--',_I'_II_00_00
1
(2) Joo say"
If I found a wallet in dlC street, I'd take it to the police station.
This is a different type of 5iru3tion. Here, doesn"t expect to find a wailer in the street:
he is inragin;'lg a situation that will probably not happen. So he says:
if I found ... , ('d (= I would) .__ . (not if I find ... ,1'11 ... )
Unit
38
If I do ... and If I did ...
When you imagine something like this, you if ... past
(if I found I if there was I if we didn't etc.).
But the meaning is not past:
o What would you do if you won a million pounds?
(we don't really expect this to
o I don't really wanr to go ro their parry, but I
probably will go. They'd be upset if I didn't go.
o If there was (or were) an election tomorrow,
who would you vote for?
For if ... was/were, Stt Unit 39C.
76
We do nOI normally would in the if-part of the sentence:
o I'd be very frightened if somebody pointed a gun al me. ('1Ot if somebod)' would point)
o If I didn't go to their parry, they'd be upset. (not If I wouldn't gol
But you can use if ... would when you ask somebody ro do something:
o (from a formal letter) I would be grateful if you would let me know your decision as soon
as possible.
In the other part of the sentence (not the if-part) we use would ('d) I wouldn't:
o If you took more exercise, you'd (= you would) feel better.
o I'm not tired. If I went to bed now. I wouldn't sleep.
o Would you mind if I used your phone?
Could and might arc also possible:
o If you took more exercise, you might feel better. 1= it is possible that you would feel better)
o If it sropped raining, we could go ol;1t. (= we would be able to go our)
Do not use when in sentences like those on this page:
o They'd be upset if t didn't go to their party. (not when I didn't go)
o What would you do if you were bitten by a snake? (not when you were bitten)
WiII- Units 21-22 If and when - Unit 250 Would - Unit 36 If I knew - Unit 39
If I had known - Unit 40
Exercises Unit 38
38.1
38.2
38.3
38.4
Put the verb into the correct form.
They would be offended if I .....4!4.,.t:l.:t....g.Q _to their parry. (not I go)
2 If you took more exercise, you ..... M better. (feel)
3 If they offered me the job, I think I _ if. (take)
4 A lot of people would be out of work if the car factory _ (dose down)
5 If I sold my car, I ". .. _ __ _ much money for it, (not f get)
6 (in a lift) What would happen if somebody _ _ that red button? (press)
7 I don't think there's any chance that Gary and Emma will get married. I'd be absolutely
astonished if they _._. __ _ _.. _ (do)
8 Liz gave me this ring. She _ _._ very upset if I lost it. (be)
9 Dave and Kate are expecting us. They would be very disappoinred if we
......._._.. _.._.._ (not I come)
10 Would Ste\'e mind if I .._._ _ _ his bike without asking him? (borrow)
11 What would you do if somebody .._ _ _._ _ _ _ .. in here with a gun? (walk)
11 fm sure Sue ..__ . _ _ _ _ if you explained the situation to her. (understand)
You ask a friend to imagine these situations. You ask What would you do if ... ?
I (imagine - you win a lot of money)
..... M Qf _._ _ _._._ _ , _ ..
2 (imagine - you lose your passpon)
What _ _ _._ _ .
3 (imagine - there's a fire in the building)
4 (imagine - you're in a lift and it StopS berween floors)
Answer the questions in the way shown.
1 .-\: Shall we carch the 10.30 train?
B: No. (arrive too early) .l..f. .. J.Q.J.9. .. tQP. _.
2 A: Is Kevin going to take his driving rest?
B: No. (fail) If he ._ .
3 .-\: Why don't we stay at a hotel?
B: No. (cosr toO much) If
4 .-\: Is Sally going to apply fat the job?
B: No. (not I get it) If ._ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ .
5 .-\: Let's tell them the trurh.
B: No. (not f believe us) If .
6 A: Why don't we invite Bill to the parry?
B: No. (have to invite his friends too)
........._ , ', ,..,.., ,.._ _ -
Use your own ideas to complete these sentences.
If you tOok more exercise, .... ....
2 I'd be \'ery angry if . _ .
3 If I didn't go to work tomorrow, ._... ..
4 Would you go to the parry if .
5 If you bought some new clothes, .
6 Would you mind if
77
Unit
39 If I knew".
I wish I knew ...
Study this example situation:
Satah wants to phone Paul, but she can't do this because
she doesn't know his number.
She says:
If J knew his number, 1 would phone him.
Satan says: If I knew his number .... This rells us that she
does"', know his number. She is imagining the situation.
The real situation is that she doesn't know his number.
If J knew his numbt-r ...
When you imagine a situation like this, you use if + past (if I knew I if you were I if we didn't
erc.). Bur the meaning is present, not past:
o Tom would read more if he had morc time. (hut he have much time)
o If I didn't want to go la the part)'. I wouldn't go. (but I wam to go)
o We wouldn't have any money if we didn't work. (but we work)
o If you were in my position, what would you do?
o It's a pity you can't drive:. It would be useful if you could.
-"
We: use the: past in the: same way afte:r wish (I wish 1 kne:w /1 wish you we:re: e:rc.). We: use wish
ro say that we: regre:r some:thing, char something is not as we: would like: it to be:
o 1wish I knew Paul's phone number.
(= I don't know it and I regret this)
o Do you eve:r wish you could fly?
(you can't fly)
o h rains a lot he:re. I wish it didn't rain 50 often.
oh's very crowde:d here. I wish there were:n't so
many people:. (there are a lot of peo.ple)
o I wish I didn't have to work tomorrow, but
unfortunately I do.
If I were / if I was
We do not normally use would in the if-parr of the sentence or after wish:
o If I were rich, 1would have a yacht. ("01 If I would be rich)
o 1wish 1 had something to read. (not I wish I would have:l
Sometimes wish ... would is possible: I wish you would listen. See Unit 41.
If I was you, ...
... if it wasn't so cold.
I wish Carol was here.
0'
After if and wish, you can use were instead of was (if I were ... /1 wish it were etc.). l was / it
was are also possible. So you can say:
o If I were you, J wouldn't buy that coat.
o I'd go out if it weren't so cold.
o I wish Carol were here.
Could some:times means 'would be able lO' and some:times 'waslwe:re able: to':
o You could ge:t a better job (you could get = you would be' able lO ge:t)
if you could use a computer. (you could use =you were able to use)
78
Could - Units 26-21 If I do I if I did - Unit 38 If I had known 11 wish I had known - Unit 40
Wish - Unit 41
Exercises Unit 39
39.1
39.2
39.3
39.4
Put the verb into the correct form.
If I _.. (know) his number. I would phone him.
2 ( p..u..!;l (nor I buy) that coat if I were you.
.3 [ _ __ _ __ _._._ {help) if I could, but I'm afraid 1 can't.
4 We would need a car if we. . _... . , (Jive) in the country.
S If we had the choice, we . , ...._......_.... . .... _....* (live) in the country.
6 This soup isn't very good. It __ _... . (taste) better if it wasn't so salt}'.
i I wouldn't mind living in England if the weather ._........................ . (bel better.
S If I were you, I . . _ (not f wait), I . (go) now.
9 You're always tired. If you (not / gol to bed so late every night, you
wouldn't be tired all the time.
10 I think there are roo CHS. If there (not I he) so many or5,
there _ (nor / be) so much pollurion.
Write a sentence with if ... for each situation.
\,(le don't see vou Ver\' often because vou live so far .
.....Lf... .. .. _ _ ..
1 This book is roo expensi\e. so I'm nor going ro buy ir.
"d .'_" .... __......_........... ......_............................ .._...... if
3 \'('e don't go Out often - we can't afford ir.
\Yle _ _ .
4 Ican'r meer you romorrow - I have 0 work late.
If _ _ .
j It's raining. so we can't have lunch outside.
We '_"._._"
6 I don'r want his ad,ice. and that's I'm nor going to ask for it.
If.
Write sentences beginning I wish
I I don'r know many people land I'm lonely) _J.. .. .
1 I don'r hare a mobile phone (and I need oneI. I wish ......
3 Helen isn'r here (and I need to see her!. . .
4 It's cold (and I h,lte cold weather). . .
5 I li\'e in a big city (and I don't like it) .
6 I can't go to the party (and I'd like ro).
7 I han' ro work Omorrow (but I'd like ro stay in bed).
8 I don't know anything abour cars (and mr car has JUSt broken down).
9 I'm nor feeling well (and it's nor nice}.
Write your own sentences beginning I wish
I (somewhere you'd like to be now - on the beach, in New York, in bed etc.)
I wish I . .
1 (something you'd like to ha\'e - a computer, a job, lors of money etc.)
3 (something you'd like to be able to do - sing, speak a language, fly etc,)
4 (something you'd like ro be - beautiful, strong, rich etc.)
- Additional exercises 19-21 (pages 313-14) 79