IF I KNEW.../ I WISH I KNEW...

IF I KNEW... I WISH I KNEW...
A. Study this example situation:
Sarah 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.
Sarah 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 we imagine a situation like this, we use if+ past (If I knew / If you were / If we didn`t , etc.).
But the meaning is present, not past:
- There are many things I`d like to do if I had more time. (but I don`t have time)
- If I didn`t want to go to the party, Iwouldn`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 he can`t drive. It would be useful if he 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 much.
- It`s very crowded here. I wish there weren`t so many people.
(there are a lot of people)
- I wish I didn`t have to work tomorrow, but unfortunately I do.
C. If I were... / if I was...
After if and wish,you can use were instead of was (if I were / I wish it were, etc.).
‘If I was / I wish it was’ are also possible. So you can say:
- If I were you, I wouldn`t buy that coat. (or) If I was you, ...
- I`d go for a walk if it weren`t so cold. (or) ... if it wasn`t so cold.
- I wish she were here. (or) I wish she was here.
C. We do not normally use would in the if-part of the sentence or after wish:
- If I were rich, Iwould travel a lot. (not If I would be rich)
- Who would you ask if you needed help? (not if you would need)
- I wish I had something to read. (not I wish I would have)
Sometimes wish ....would is possible: I wish you would listen.
E. Could sometimes means `would be able to` and sometimes `was/were able to`:
- She could get a better job if she could speak English. (she could get = she would be able to get)
(if she could speak = if she was/were able to speak)
- I wish I could help you. (I wish I could = I wish I was able)
PRACTICE
I. Put the verb into the correct form.
1. If I knew (I / know) his number, I would phone him.
2. I would buy (I / not / buy) that coat if I were you.
3. . ...............(I / help) you if I could, but I`m afraid I can`t.
4. We don`t need a car at present, but we would need a car if..........(we / live) in the country.
5. If we had the choice, ...............(we I live) in the country.
6. This soup isn`t very good....................(it / taste) better if it wasn`t so salty.
7. I wouldn`t mind living in England if the weather................(be) better.
8. If I were you, ...............(I / not / wait)................(I / go) now.
9. You`re always tired. If..................(you I not I go) to bed so late every night, you wouldn`t be tired all the time.
10. I think there are too many cars. If................(there I not I be) so many cars,
.............................(there / not / be) so much pollution.
II. Write a sentence with if ... for each situation.
1. We don`t see you very often because you live so far away.
( If you didn`t live so far away, we`d see you more often.
2. It`s a nice book but it`s too expensive, so I`m not going to buy it.
I ........it if...............so...........................................
3. We don`t