Unit I

3 8 I If I do ... and If I did ...

Compare these examples:

(1) l is a : Shall we go by bus or by train? If we go by bus,

je s s : If we go by bus, it will be cheaper. it will be cheaper.

For Jess, it is possible that they will go by bus,

so she says:
If we go by bus, it will be ...

LISA JE S S

(2) Lisa and Jess decide to go by train.

Later, jess talks to Joe.
f If we went by bus, it would be cheaper. J
jo e : How are you going to travel? '
j e s s : We're going by train. If we went by bus,

it would be cheaper, but the train is quicker.

Now Jess knows they are not going to travel by bus,

so she says:
If we went by bus, it would be ... (not If we go ...) JO E JE S S

When we imagine something that will not happen, or we

don't expect that it will happen, we use if + past
(if we went / if there was / if you found etc.).
But the meaning is not past:
3 What would you do if you won a lot of money?
(we don't really expect this to happen)
If there was (or were) an election tomorrow,
who would you vote for?

For if ... was/were, see Unit 39C.

Compare if I find and if I found:

I think I left my watch at your house. If you find it, I won a lot of money
can you call me?
but If you found a wallet in the street, what would you do with it?

We do not normally use would in the if-part of the sentence:

I'd be very scared if somebody pointed a gun at me. (not if somebody would point)
If we went by bus, it would be cheaper, (not If we would go)

But you can use if ... would when you ask somebody to do something:
(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) / wouldn't:
O What would you do if you were bitten by a snake?
! i I'm not going to bed yet. I'm not tired. If I went to bed now, I wouldn't sleep.
Would you mind if I used your phone?

Could and might are also possible:

If I won a lot of money, I might buy a house. (= it is possible that I would buy a house)
O If it stopped raining, we could go out. (= we would be able to go out)

W ill Units 21-22 If and when -► Unit 25D W ould Unit 36 If I knew Unit 39
76 If I had known -*■ Unit 40
Exercises
W hat do you say in these situations?
1 Of course you don't expect to win the Lottery. Which do you say?
a If I win the Lottery, I'Ll buy a big house. _
b If I won the lottery, I'd buy a big house. l/_ (b is correct)
2 You're not going to sell your car because it's old and not worth much.Which do you say?
a If I sell my car, I won't get much money for it. EH
b If I sold my car, I wouldn't get much money for it. EH
3 You often see Sarah. A friend of yours wants to contact her. Which do you say?
a If I see Sarah, I'll tell her to call you. EH
b If I saw Sarah, I'd tell her to call you. EH
4 You don't expect that there will be a fire in the building. Which do you say?
a What will you do if there is a fire in the building? EH
b What would you do if there was a fire in the building? EH
5 You’ve never lost your passport. You can only imagine it.
a I don't know what I'll do if I lose my passport. _
b I don't know what I'd do if I lost my passport. EH
6 Somebody stops you and asks the way to a bank. Which do you say?
a If you go right at the end of this street, you'll see a bank on your left. EH
b If you went right at the end of this street, you'd see a bank on yourLeft. EH
7 You’re in a lift. There is an emergency button.Nobody is going to press it. Which do you say?
a What will happen if somebody presses that button? EH
b What would happen if somebody pressed that button? __

Put the verb into correct form.

1 I'd be very scared if somebody pointed,(point) a gun at me.
2 I can’t afford to buy a car. If I (buy) a car, I'd have to borrow the money.
3 Don't Lend Amy your car. If she ........(ask) me, I wouldn'tLend her mine.
4 If the computer factory closed down, many people ............................. (Lose) their jobs.
5 I don't think Gary and Emma will get married. I ................... (be)amazediftheydid.
6 What would you do if you (be) in a lift and it (stop)
between floors?
7 If somebody (give) me £10,000,1 (have)averylongholiday.

Write sentences beginning If ... .

1 We've decided not to catch the 10.30 train, (arrive too early)
If we caugHt the 10.30 tm m , we’d arrive, too early . ...........

2 Kevin is not going to do his driving test now. (fail)

If he ......................... -.......................................................... ....................................................
3 We've decided not to stay at a hotel, (cost too much)
If ..............
4 Sally isn't going to leave her job. (not / get another one)

5 We've decided not to invite Ben to the party, (have to invite his friends too)

6 I'm not going to tell him what happened, (not / believe me)

Use your own ideas to complete these sentences.

1 If I won a lot of money, I’d- buy cl House.
2 I'd be very angry if.............. ............
3 If you bought a car, ...............................
4 I'd be surprised if
5 Would you mind if
Unit
39 If I knew ... I wish I knew ...
Study this example situation:

Sarah 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.

Sarah 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.
If I 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:
There are many things I'd like to do if I had more time, (but I don't have time)
If I didn't want to go to the party, I wouldn't go. (but I want to go)
C 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 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: ___________________
I wish I knew Paul's phone number. wish I had an umbrella.^
(= I don't know it and I regret this)
Do you ever wish you could fly?
V
(you can't fly)
It rains a lot here. I wish it didn't rain so much.
It's very crowded here. I wish there weren't so
many people, (there are a lot of people)
I wish I didn't have to work tomorrow, but
unfortunately I do.

If I were / if I was

After if and wish, you can use were instead of was (if I were / I wish it were etc.).
If 1was / I wish it was are also possible. So you can say:
O If I were you, I wouldn't buy that coat. or If I was you, ...
O I'd go for a walk if it weren't so cold. or ... if it wasn't so cold.
I wish she were here. or I wish she was here.

We do not normally use would in the if-part of the sentence or after wish:
If I were rich, I would travel a lot. (not If I would be rich)
O Who would you ask if you needed help? (not if you would need)
O 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 41.

Could sometimes means 'would be able to' and sometimes ‘was/were able to':
She could get a better job (she could get = she would be able to get)
if she could speak English. (if she could speak = if she was/were able to speak)
I wish I could help you. (I wish I could = I wish I was able)

C Could -* Units 26-27 If I do / if I did Unit 38

78 \J f I had known / I wish I had known Unit 40 Wish Unit 41
Exercises
Put the verb into the correct form.
1 |f I knew (| / know) his number, I would phone him.
2 I wouldn t buy (| / not / buy) that coat if I were you.
3 (I / help) you if I could, but I'm afraid I can't.
4 We don't need a car at present, but we would need a car if (we / live)
in the country.
5 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 salty.
7 I wouldn’t mind living in England if the weather (be) better.
8 If I were you, ... (I/ n o t/ w a it)................... (I/go) now.
9 You're aLways tired. If (you / not / go) to bed so late every night,
you wouldn’t be tired all the time.
10 I think there are too many cars. If ... (there / not / be) so many cars,
(there / not / be) so much pollution.

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

1 We don't see you very often because you live so far away.
l-f you djA'ftt live so -for (Xwaxj, we’d see you more o fte n .............................................
2 It's a nice book but it's too expensive, so I'm not going to buy it.
I it if ....... so
3 We don't go out very often - we can't afford it.
We more often ..................... .......................................
4 I can't meet you tomorrow - I have to work late.
I f . ................... .......................... ....................... ........................................................................
5 It would be nice to have lunch outside but it's raining, so we can't.
We
6 I don't want his advice, and that's why I'm not going to ask for it.
If.......................................................................................................................... ...... ...............

Write sentences beginning I wish ... .

1 I don't know many people (and I'm lonely). ' wish I knew more people.
2 Idon't have a computer (and I need one). I wish
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 Ican't go to the party (and I'd like to)................................. ............
7 Ihave to get up early tomorrow (but I'dlike to sleep late).

8 I don't know anything about cars (and my car has just broken down).

9 I'm not feeling well (and it's not nice).

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.)

3 (something you'd like to be able to do - sing, travel more, cook etc.)

4 (something you'd like to be - beautiful, strong, younger etc.)

-> Additional exercises 19-21 (pages 313-14)

 Key to Exercises

33.4 UNIT 35 36.4

3 We should have reserved a table. 2 He promised he'd call. /
35.1
4 The shop should be open (now). / ... he would call.
2 You'd better put a plaster on it.
The shop should have 3 You promised you wouldn't tell her.
3 We'd better reserve a table.
opened by now. or 4 They promised they'd wait (for us). /
4 You'd better not go to work (this
it should ... ... they would wait.
morning).
5 She shouldn't be doing 50, /
5 I'd better pay my phone bill (soon). / 36.5
She shouldn't be driving so fast. /
I'd better pay it (soon). 2 wouldn't tell
She should be driving more slowly.
6 I'd better not disturb him. 3 wouldn't speak
6 I should have written down her
4 wouldn't let
address. / 1should have written her 35.2
address down, or 3 'd better 36.6
I should have written it down. 4 should 2 would shake
7 The driver in front shouldn't have 5 should 3 would always help
stopped without warning. / ... 6 'd better 4 would share
shouldn't have stopped so suddenly. 7 should 5 would always forget
8 I should have been looking where I 8 should
was going. / 1shouldn't have been
UNIT 37
35.3
looking behind me. 1 b 'd/had 37.1
c close/shut 2 Can/Could I leave a message (for
UNIT 34 d hadn't her)? or
34.1 2 a did Can/Could you give her a message?
2 I should stay / 1stay / 1stayed b was done 3 Can/Could you tell me how to get to
the station? or
a tittle Longer c thought
3 they should visit / they visit / they ... the way to the station? or
35.4 ... where the station is?
visited the museum after lunch
2 It's time I had a holiday. 4 Can/Could 1try on these trousers?
4 we should pay / we pay / we paid
3 It's time the train left. or
the rent by Friday
4 It’s time I/we had a party. Can/Could I try these (trousers) on?
5 I should go / 1go / 1went away for
5 It's time some changes were made. / 5 Can I give/offer you a lift?
a few days
It's time the company made some
37.2
34.2 changes.
3 Do you think you could check these
1 b OK 6 it’s time he tried something else,
forms (for me)? / ... check them
c OK
UNIT 36 (for me)?
d wrong
4 Do you mind if I leave work early?
2 a OK 36.1
5 Do you think you could turn the
b wrong Example answers:
music down? / ... turn it down?
c OK 2 I wouldn't like to be a teacher.
6 is it OK if I close the window?
34.3 3 I'd love to learn to fly a plane.
7 Do you think I could have a look at
2 should say 4 It would be nice to have a big garden.
your paper? /... at your newspaper?
3 should worry 5 I'd like to go to Mexico.
37.3
4 should leave 36.2
5 should ask
2 Can/Could/Would you show me?
2 'd enjoy / would enjoy
or Do you think you could show
6 should listen 3 'd have enjoyed / would have
me? or ... do it for me?
34.4 enjoyed
3 Would you like to sit down?
2 If it should rain 4 would you do
or Would you like a seat?
3 If there should be any problems 5 'd have stopped / would have
or Can I offer you a seat?
4 If anyone should ask stopped
4 Can/Could/Would you slow down?
5 Should there be any problems 6 would have been
or Do you think you could ... ?
6 Should anyone ask (where I’m going) 7 ‘d be / would be
5 Can/Could/May I/we have the
8 'd have passed / would have passed
34.5 bill, please? or Do you think I/we
9 would have
2 I should keep could have ... ?
3 I should phone 36.3 6 Would you like to borrow it?
4 I should get 2 e
3 b UNIT 38
4 f 38.1
5 a 2 b 5 b
6 d 3 a 6 a
4 b 7 b

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 Key to Exercises

38.2 39.3 40.3

2 bought 2 I wish I had a computer. 2 I wish I'd applied / 1wish i had
3 asked 3 I wish Helen were/was here. applied for it. or ... for the job.
4 would lose 4 I wish it weren't/wasn’t (so) cold. 3 I wish I'd learned / 1wish I had
S 'd be / would be 5 I wish I didn't Live in a big city. Learned to play a musical
6 were ... stopped 6 I wish I could go to the party. instrument (when I was younger), or
7 gave ...'d have / would have 7 I wish I didn't have to get up early I wish I could play ... / 1wish I was
tomorrow. able to play
38.3
8 I wish I knew something about cars. 4 I wish I hadn't painted it red.
2 If he did his driving test now, he'd
9 I wish I were feeling / was feeling or ... the gate red.
fail (it) / ... he would fail (it).
better. 5 I wish I'd brought / 1wish I had
3 if we stayed at a hotel, it would cost
brought my camera, or
too much. 39.4
I wish I had my camera (with me)
4 If she left her job, she wouldn't get Example answers:
6 I wish they'd phoned / 1wish they
another one. 1 I wish I was at home.
had phoned me first (to say they
5 if we invited Ben (to the party), we'd 2 I wish I had a big garden.
were coming), or
have to invite his friends too. / 3 I wish I could tell jokes.
I wish I’d known / I wish I had known
... we would have to ... 4 I wish I was taller.
they were coming.
6 If I told him what happened, he
wouldn't believe me. UNIT 40
UNIT 41
38.4 40.1
41.1
Example answers: 2 If he’d missed / he had missed
2 hope 5 hope
2 I’d be very angry if somebody broke (the train), he’d have missed / he
3 wish 6 wish ... hope
into my house. would have missed (his flight too).
4 wished
3 If you bought a car, it would cost 3 I'd have forgotten / 1would have
you a Lot to maintain it. forgotten (if) you hadn't reminded 41.2
4 I'd be surprised if the economic 4 I'd had / 1had had (your address), 2 I wish jane/she would come.
situation improved. I'd have sent / 1would have sent or ... would hurry up.
5 Would you mind if I didn't go out (you an email) 3 I wish somebody would give me a
with you tonight? 5 we'd have enjoyed / we would have job.
enjoyed (it more if the weather) 4 I wish the/that baby would stop
UNIT 39 had been (better) crying.
6 It would have been (quicker if) I'd 5 I wish you would buy some new
39.1
3 I’d help / I would help walked / I had walked clothes, or I wish you
4 we lived 7 I were / 1was would get some new clothes.
8 I'd been / I had been 6 I wish you wouldn't drive so fast.
5 we'd live / we would live
6 It would taste 40.2 7 I wish you wouldn't leave the door
7 were/was open (all the time).
2 If the road hadn't been icy, the
8 I wouldn’t wait .. I’d go / 1would go 8 I wish people wouldn't drop litter in
accident wouldn’t have happened.
9 you didn't go the street.
3 If I'd known / If I had known that
10 there weren't ... there wouldn't be Joe had to get up early, I'd have 41.3
39.2 woken / 1would have woken him up. 2 OK
4 If I hadn't lost my phone (or If I'd 3 I wish I had more free time.
2 I'd buy it / 1would buy it if it
had my phone), I'd have called you / 4 I wish our flat was/were a bit bigger.
weren’t/wasn’t so expensive.
3 We’d go out / We would go out I would have called you / 1would 5 OK
have been able to call you / 1could 6 OK
more often if we could afford it.
have called you 7 I wish everything wasn't/weren't so
4 If I didn't have to work late, I could
meet you tomorrow, or 5 If Karen hadn't been wearing a seat expensive.
belt, she'd have been injured / she
... i'd meet / I would m eet... 41.4
or ... I'd be able to m eet...
would have been injured (in the
3 I knew
5 We could have Lunch outside if it crash), or ... she might/could have
4 I'd taken / 1had taken
been injured
weren't raining / wasn't raining. 5 I could come
6 If I wanted his advice, I'd ask for it / 6 If you'd had / If you had had
6 I wasn't / 1weren't
I would ask for it. breakfast, you wouldn't be hungry
7 they'd hurry up / they would
now.
hurry up
7 If I’d had / If I had had enough
8 we didn't have
money, I’d have got / 1would have
9 we could have stayed
got a taxi.
10 it wasn't / it weren't
11 he'd decide / he would decide
12 we hadn't gone

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