039 : if I knew … / I wish I knew …

   A   

Study this example situation:

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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.

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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, I wouldn'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)

  

       I wish I had an umbrella.

• 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.

 

 

   D   

We do not normally use would in the if-part of the sentence or after wish:

• If I were rich, I would 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. See Unit 41D.

 

 

   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 to)

 

 

 

 

※ pity :

 

 

 

※ compassion :

 

 

 

※ sympathy :

 

 

 

※ regret :