Conditionals – Wishes
| If-clause | Main clause | Use | |
| Type 1 real present |
If + any present form (Present S., Present Cont. or Present Perf.) |
Future / Imperative can / may / might / must / should + bare inf. Present Simple (for general truths) |
real – likely to happen in the present or future |
| If he leaves early, he'll be on time for the meeting. If you're tired, go to bed! If you have finished your work, we can go for a walk. If you heat water, it boils. |
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| Type 2 unreal present |
If + Past Simple or Past Continuous | would / could / might + bare infinitive | unreal – unlikely to happen in the present or future; also used to give advice |
| If I saw a ghost, I would run away. (not likely to happen) If I were you, I wouldn't go out with him. (advice) |
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| Type 3 unreal past |
If + Past Perfect or Past Perfect Continuous | would / could / might + have + past participle | unreal situation in the past; also used to express regrets and criticism |
| If I had locked the car, it wouldn't have been stolen. (regret; It's a pity I didn't lock it.) If he had behaved well, the teacher wouldn't have punished him. (criticism) |
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| When the if-clause is before the main clause, we separate the two clauses with a comma. If you come early, we can go for a walk. But: We can go for a walk if you come early. |
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| We do not normally use will, would or should in an if-clause. If you hurry, you will catch the train. (not: If you will hurry, you will...) However, we can use will / would in Type 1 Conditionals to make a request or to express insistence or annoyance, and should when we are less sure about the possibility. (slight possibility) If you will give me a hand with the dishes, we can go out together. (Please, give me a hand with the dishes.) If you would give me a hand with the dishes, we could go out together. (Please, give me a hand with ...) If you will continue to go out every night, you'll fail your exams. (insistence; if you insist on going out) If I meet her, I'll ask her. (I may meet her.) If I should meet her, I'll ask her. (I may meet her, but I doubt it.) |
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| After if, we can use were instead of was in all persons. If I was / were you, I would try harder. | |||
| Unless means if not. Unless she studies, she won't pass her test. (If she doesn't study, she won't pass her test.) |
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| As long as, providing / provided that can be used instead of if. As long as he's on time, we won't be late for the meeting. (If he's on time, we won't be late for the meeting.) We'll come by car provided/providing that Father lends us his. (We'll come by car if Father lends us his.) |
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Mixed Conditionals
| All types of conditionals can be mixed. Any tense combination is possible if the context permits it. | |||
| If - clause | Main clause | ||
| Type 2 | If nobody phoned him, | he won't come to the meeting. | Type 1 |
| Type 2 | If he knew her, | he would have spoken to her. | Type 3 |
| Type 3 | If he had found a job, | he wouldn't be searching for one now. | Type 2 |
Wishes
| Form | Use | |
| I wish (if only) (regret about the present) |
+ Past Simple | regret about a present situation which we want to be different |
| I wish I were / was more patient. (It's a pity I'm not patient enough.) | ||
| I wish (if only) (wish / regret about the present) |
+ subject + could + bare inf. | wish or regret in the present concerning lack of ability |
| I wish I could ride a bicycle. (But I can't.) | ||
| I wish (if only) (impossible wish for a future change) |
+ subject + would + bare inf. (a. "wish" and "would" should have different subjects. We never say: I wish I would, He wishes he would etc. b. wish + inanimate subject + would is used to express the speaker's lack of hope or disappointment.) |
wish for a future change unlikely to happen or wish to express dissatisfaction; polite request implying dissatisfaction or lack of hope |
| I wish he would study for his exams. (But I don't think he will. - wish for a future change unlikely to happen) I wish Jane would go to university. (Jane has refused to do so and I'm unhappy about it. - dissatisfaction) I wish you would be quiet. (Please be quiet; but I don't expect you will. - request implying lack of hope) I wish it would stop snowing. (But I'm afraid it won't stop snowing. - wish implying disappointment) |
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| I wish (if only) (regret about the past) |
+ Past Perfect | regret that something happened or didn't happen in the past |
| I wish I had gone to Ann's party last night. (But I didn't. - It's a pity I didn't go.) | ||
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In wishes, we go one tense back. This means that we use Past Simple in the present and Past Perfect in the past. I'm poor. I wish I were rich. (present) / I lost my watch yesterday. I wish I hadn't lost it. (past) After I wish we can use were instead of was in all persons. I wish I was / were taller. If only means the same as I wish but it is more dramatic. If only I was / were taller. |
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