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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)
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