Easy Word | Luyện ngữ pháp


Luyện ngữ pháp - English Grammar in Use - Intermediate ((Unit 40: If I had known ... Iwish I had known ...))


If I had known ... I wish I had known ...

A

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)
B 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)
C 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)
D 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)
Exercises - 40.1


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