Unit 40: If I had known ... I wish I had known ...

English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 40: If I had known ... I wish I had known ...

Study this example situation:

Last month Gary was in hospital for a few days. Rachel didn't know this, so she didn't go to visit him. They met a few days ago.
Rachel said:

If I'd known you were in hospital, I would have gone to see you.

Rachel said: If I'd known (= If I had known) you were in hospital. This tells us that she didn't know.

We use if + had ('d) ... to talk about the past (if I had known/been/done etc.):

I didn't see you when you passed me in the street. If I'd seen you, of course I would have said hello. (but I didn't see you)
I didn't go out last night. I would have gone out if I hadn't been so tired. (but I was tired)
If he had been looking where he was going, he wouldn't have walked into the wall. (but he wasn't looking)
The view was wonderful. If I'd had a camera with me, I would have taken some pictures. (but I didn't have a camera)

Compare:

I'm not hungry. If I was hungry, I would eat something. (now)
I wasn't hungry. If I had been hungry, I would have eaten something. (past)

Do not use would in the if-part of the sentence. We use would in the other part of the sentence:

If I had seen you, I would have said hello. (not If I would have seen you)

Note that 'd can be would or had:

If I'd seen you, (I'd seen = I had seen)
I'd have said hello. (I'd have said = I would have said)

We use had (done) in the same way after wish. I wish something had happened = I am sorry that it didn't happen:

I wish I'd known that Gary was ill. I would have gone to see him. (but I didn't know)
I feel sick. I wish I hadn't eaten so much cake. (I ate too much cake)
Do you wish you'd studied science instead of languages? (you didn't study science)

Do not use would have ... after wish:

The weather was cold when we were on holiday. I wish it had been warmer. (not I wish it would have been)

Compare would (do) and would have (done):

If I'd gone to the party last night, I would be tired now. (I am not tired now - present)
If I'd gone to the party last night, I would have met lots of people. (I didn't meet lots of people - past)

Compare would have, could have and might have:

If the weather hadn't been so bad,

we would have gone out.
we could have gone out. (= we would have been able to go out)
we might have gone out (= perhaps we would have gone out)

40.1 Put the verb into the correct form.

I didn't see you when you passed me in the street. If ⁽¹⁾ (I / see) you, ⁽²⁾ (I / say) hello.
Sam got to the station just in time to catch the train to the airport. If ⁽³⁾ __________ (he /miss) the train, ⁽⁴⁾ __________ (he / miss) his flight too.
I'm glad that you reminded me about Rachel's birthday. ⁽⁵⁾ __________ (I / forget) if ⁽⁶⁾ __________ (you / not / remind) me.
I wanted to send you an email, but I didn't have your email address. If ⁽⁷⁾ __________ (I / have) your address, ⁽⁸⁾ __________ (I / send) you an email.
A: How was your trip? Was it good?
B: It was OK, but. ⁽⁹⁾ __________ (we / enjoy) it more if the weather ⁽¹⁰⁾ __________ (be) better.
I took a taxi to the hotel, but the traffic was bad. ⁽¹¹⁾ __________ (it / be) quicker if ⁽¹²⁾ __________ (I / walk).
I'm not tired. If ⁽¹³⁾ __________ (I / be) tired, I'd go home now.
I wasn't tired last night. If ⁽¹⁴⁾ __________ (I / be) tired, I would have gone home earlier.

40.2 For each situation, write a sentence beginning with If.

I wasn't hungry, so I didn't eat anything.
⁽¹⁾ .
The accident happened because the road was icy.
If the road ⁽²⁾ __________ , the accident ⁽³⁾ __________ .
I didn't know that Joe had to get up early, so I didn't wake him up.
If I ⁽⁴⁾ __________ that he had to get up early, ⁽⁵⁾ __________ .
Unfortunately I lost my phone, so I couldn't call you.
If ⁽⁶⁾ __________ .
Karen wasn't injured in the crash because she was wearing a seat belt.
⁽⁷⁾ __________ .
You didn't have breakfast - that's why you're hungry now.
⁽⁸⁾ __________ .
I didn't get a taxi because I didn't have enough money.
⁽⁹⁾ __________ .

40.3 Imagine that you are in these situations. For each situation, write a sentence with I wish.

You've eaten too much and now you feel sick.
You say: .
There was a job advertised in the paper. You decided not to apply for it. Now you think that your decision was wrong.
You say: I wish I __________ .
When you were younger, you never learned to play a musical instrument. Now you regret this.
You say: __________ .
You've painted the gate red. Now you think that red was the wrong colour.
You say: __________ .
You are walking in the country. You'd like to take some pictures, but you didn't bring your camera.
You say: __________ .
You have some unexpected guests. They didn't phone you first to say they were coming. You are very busy and you are not prepared for them.
You say (to yourself): __________ .

Answer Key

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PART A: 14 Elementary tests, 14 Pre-Intermediate tests, 8 Intermediate tests. Each test is specified on different grammar topics. PART B: 14 tests including Elementary, Pre-intermediate, Intermediate and Upper intermediate level grammar tests. Every test is focused on a different grammar topic. (2452 questions) PART C: 16 Multi-level grammar tests. Each test is specified on a different grammar topic. (1418 questions) PART D: 20 perfect multi-level grammar tests for assessment. (2000 questions) PART E: 6 Elementary, 5 Intermediate, 3 Advanced grammar tests. The formats of the tests are similar and the level gradually increases. (1400 questions)

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