If and wish sentences (present)

UNIT 35 If and wish sentences (present)

A.   Study this example situation:

Tom wants to call Sue, but he can't because he doesn't know her telephone number.
He says:

If I knew her number, I would call her.

Tom says "If I knew her number . . . '' This tells us that he doesn't know her number He is imagining the situation. The real situation is that he doesn't know her number.

when you imagine a situation like this, you use a past tense form ("I did/I had/I knew,''etc.) after if. But the meaning is present, not past:

• Tom would travel if he had more money. (but he doesn't have much money)

• If I didn't want to go, I wouldn't. (but I want to go)

• We wouldn't have any money if we didn't work. (but we work)                         

B.  We also use for a present situation after wish. We use wish to say that we regret something, that that something is not as we would like it to be:

• I wish I knew Sue's telephone number. (I don't know it.) 

• Do you ever wish you could fly? (It rains a (You can't fly)
   
•  I wish it didn't rain so much in this city. (It rains a lot)
   
• It's crowded here. I wish there weren't so many people. (There are a lot of people)

• I wish I didn't have to work. (I have to work.)

C.   In if sentences and after wish we use were instead of was:

• If I were you, I wouldn't buy that coat. (but I am not you)

• I'd go out if it weren't raining. (but it is raining)

• I wish my room were larger. (but it isn't very large)

D.   Do not use would in the if part of the sentence or after wish:

• If I were rich,I would buy a castle. (not if I would be rich)

• I wish I were taller (not I wish I would be taller.)

But sometimes I wish . . . would . . . is possible.

Could sometimes means "would be able to" and sometimes ''was able to'':

• She could (= would be able to) get a job more easily if she could (= was able to) type.