Exercise 1
Put the verb into the correct form.
1 If ……………………. (I / know) his number, I would phone him.
2 ……………………. (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 / 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 / not / 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 / not / be) so many cars, ……………………. (there / not / be) so much pollution.
Answers
1
1 I knew
2 I wouldn’t buy
3 I’d help / I would help
4 we lived
5 we’d live / we would live
6 It would taste
7 were/was
8 I wouldn’t wait … I’d go / I would go
9 you didn’t go
10 there weren’t … there wouldn’t be
Exercise 2
Write a sentence with if … for each situation.
1 We don’t see you very often because you live so far away.
If …………………….
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 go out very often – we can’t afford it.
We ……………………. more often …………………….
4 I can’t meet you tomorrow – I have to work late.
If …………………….
5 It would be nice to have lunch outside but it’s raining, so we can’t.
We …………………….
6 I don’t want his advice, and that’s why I’m not going to ask for it.
If …………………….
Answers
2
1 If you didn’t live so far away, we’d see you more often.
2 I’d buy it / I would buy it if it weren’t/wasn’t so expensive.
3 We’d go out I We would go out more often if we could afford it.
4 If I didn’t have to work late, I could meet you tomorrow. or … I’d meet / I would meet … or … I’d be able to meet …
5 We could have lunch outside if it weren’t raining / wasn’t raining.
6 If I wanted his advice, I’d ask for it / I would ask for it.
Exercise 3
Write sentences beginning I wish ….
1 I don’t know many people (and I’m lonely). ……………………. ………………………….
2 I don’t have a computer (and I need one). I wish …………………….
3 Helen isn’t here (and I need to see her). …………………….
4 It’s cold (and I hate cold weather). …………………….
5 I live in a big city (and I don’t like it). …………………….
6 I can’t go to the party (and I’d like to). …………………….
7 I have to get up early tomorrow {but I’d like to sleep late). …………………….
8 I don’t know anything about cars (and my car has just broken down). …………………….
9 I’m not feeling well (and it’s not nice). …………………….
Answers
3
1 I wish I knew more people
2 I wish I had a computer.
3 I wish Helen were/was here.
4 I wish it weren’t/wasn’t (so) cold.
5 I wish I didn’t live in a big city.
6 I wish I could go to the party.
7 I wish I didn’t have to get up early tomorrow.
8 I wish I knew something about cars.
9 I wish I were feeling / was feeling better.
Exercise 4
Write your own sentences beginning I wish … .
1 (somewhere you’d like to be now – on the beach, in New York, in bed etc.)
I wish I …………………….
2 (something you’d like to have- a motorbike, more friends, lots of money etc.)
…………………….
3 (something you’d like to be able to do- sing, travel more, cook etc.)
…………………….
4 (something you ‘d like to be – beautiful, strong, younger etc.)
…………………….
Answers
4
Example answers:
1 I wish I was at home.
2 I wish I had a big garden.
3 I wish I could tell jokes.
4 I wish I was taller.