2 LANGUAGE BANK
GRAMMAR
Third conditional: Unreal past
2.1 Compare:
If Clause Main Clause I’m not hungry. If I was hungry, I would eat
if + past perfect would / wouldn’t or something. (now)
could / couldn’t I wasn’t hungry. If I had been hungry, I would
+ have +past participle have eaten something. (past)
If I had known you I would have gone to see
were in hospital, you
*Rachel said:
If I’d known (= If I had known) you were in hospital:
This tells us that she didn’t know, so the 3rd
conditional is an imaginary past situation that didn’t
happen.
!! NOTE!!
We use if + had(‘d)…….. to talk about the past (if I
had known/ been / done etc.) You should know that ‘d can mean would or
had:
EXAMPLES:
I didn’t see you when you passed me in the street. If I’d seen you, (I’d seen= I had seen)
If I’d seen you (I didn’t see you), of course I would I’d have said hello.( I’d have said= I would
have said hello. have said)
We can also use ‘wish’ like ‘if’ with no change
I didn’t go out last night. I could have gone out in meaning.
(there was a possibility to go out but I didn’t) if I I wish I’d known that Gary was ill, I would have
hadn’t been so tired. gone to see him. (but I didn’t know)
I feel sick. I wish I hadn’t eaten so much cake. (
but I ate too much cake )
Wishes about the present hope
2.2 For wishes about the present we use I wish + the If the wish is a good one, we use I hope. This is
past simple. Note the relationship with the not followed by a conditional form - it is simply
second conditional. followed by the present simple or will.
I wish I owned a helicopter. If I owned a I hope you have a good time at the party.
helicopter, I would be happy. I hope the weather will be tine tomorrow.
I wish I didn't have to go to school! IfI didn't
go to school, I would be happy. If only
We can replace I wish with If only for emphasis.
could We stress only in speech. If only I owned a
We use I wish I could to refer to something that helicopter.
is difficult or impossible. This can refer to the
present or future. If only I hadn't eaten so much!
I wish I could fly! would + infinitive
I wish I could stay at home tomorrow. When something or someone annoys us, we can
** As in the second conditional, the past simple use the structure would + infinitive to express our
form does not refer to past time. annoyance.
I wish you would stop smoking.
Wishes about the past I wish you would clean up after yourself!
For wishes about the past we use I wish + the
past perfect. Note the relationship with the third regret
conditional. when we express regret about doing or not doing
I wish I had lived in the eighteenth century! If I something, we can also use the structure regret
had lived in the eighteenth century I would + Ving like the following example:
have been happy. I regret buying this car.
I wish I hadn't eaten so much! I feel awful! If I I regret not talking to her.
hadn't eaten so much, it would have been
better for me!
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PRACTICE
2.1 A. Put the verb into the correct form. B. For each situation, write the sentences
1. I didn’t see you when you passed me in the beginning or ending with If clause.
street. If____________ ( I/ see) you, _____________ I wasn’t hungry, so I didn’t eat anything.
( I/ say) hello.
____________________________________________
2. Sam got to the station just in time to catch the The accident happened because the road was
train to the airport. If_____________ (he /miss) the
train, ____________ (he/miss) his flight too. icy.
____________________________________________
3. I’m glad that you reminded me about Rachel’s
birthday. ______________ (I/ forget) if I didn’t know that Jack had to get up early, so I
____________ ( you/not/remind) me. didn’t wake him up.
4. I wanted to send you an email, but I didn’t have ____________________________________________
your email address. If ____________ (I/have) your
address, ____________ (I/ send ) you an email. Unfortunately I lost my phone, so I couldn’t call
you.
A: How was your trip? Was it good?
____________________________________________
B: It was OK, but ____________ (we/ enjoy) it Karen wasn’t injured in the crash because she
more if the weather ____________ (be) better.
was wearing a seat belt.
5. I took a taxi to the hotel, but the traffic was ____________________________________________
bad. ____________ (it/ be) quicker if
______________ ( I/ walk). I didn’t get a taxi because I didn’t have enough
money.
6. I wasn’t tired last night. If ____________ ( I/be)
tired, ____________ ( I/ go) home earlier. ____________________________________________
2.2 A. Underline the correct continuation for each B. Rita isn't very happy at the moment. Complete
sentence. her words.
1. I’ve got lots of work to do, and I'm tired, but I can't a. Rita wasted a lot of money but her parents will give
stop. her money soon.
a, I wish I had taken a rest. "I hope my parents ______________________ a lot of
b I wish I could take a rest. money!”
2. I wasn't paying attention in class, and now I can't do b. Rita thinks new jobs are difficult to find.
my homework. “I wish new jobs ______________________ so difficult to
a. I wish I listened to my teacher. find”
b. I wish I'd listened to my teacher.
c. Rita thinks new jobs are difficult to find.
3. Sarah painted her room green, but she doesn't like it. “I wish new jobs ______________________ easier to find”
a. She wishes she'd painted it blue.
b. She wishes she painted it blue. d. Rita can't go on holiday this summer.
“I wish I ______________________ on holiday.”
4. This is a very puzzling problem!
a. I wish I'd known the answer. e. Rita doesn't have very good qualifications.
b. I wish I knew the answer. “I regret ______________________ better qualifications.”
5. It's really cold and miserable here in the winter. f. Rita has to do the washing up. She hates doing it.
a. I wish we lived in a warm place. “If only ______________________ do the washing up.”
b. I hope we live in a warm place. g. Rita is sorry her family moved to the suburbs.
6. I can't repair my bike because I haven't got any tools. “I wish we ______________________ to the suburbs.”
a. If only I would have a screwdriver. h. Rita thinks she is very untidy.
b. If only I had a screwdriver. “I wish I ______________________ so untidy.”
7. I'm worried about my basketball team. Perhaps they
won't win!
a. I wish they play well.
b. I hope they play well.
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