UNIT 8

Conditionals, Wishes and Regrets

The main linking words for conditional clauses are if and unless, but even if,
as/so long as, supposing, whether ,.. or, however (+ adjective/determiner),
whoever, wherever, whenever, etc,, providing/provided (that),
no matter who/how/when etc, can also be used:
o lf they're short of money, they don't eat out, (Zero Conditional)
o You'll have a tussle with the management if you go ahead with that plan.
(First Conditional, possible future action)
Note that if you should go or should you go ahead with that plan is more formal,
, lf thel had a bigger garden, they could grow their own vegetables,
(Second Conditional, hypothetical but possible)
Similarly:
, lf you were to join the committee, we'd be very pleased.
Note that Were you to join is more formal.
, lf you hadn't been late, you would have understood the lecture.
(Third Conditional, referring to a past situation)

There are also Mixed Conditionals:

,' lf you hadn't been late, you'd know what we're talking about now,
and a more formal version of the Third Conditional:
, Had you arrived on time, you would have understood the lecture,

A Complete the sentences 1 If you (make) a run for it, you'll catch the train,
',vith the correct tense of 2 If Laura (not eat) so much, she wouldn't have put on weight.
the verbs in brackets.
3 If they (have) their car serviced regularly, it never lets them down.
4 The earthquake would have caused less damage if the houses (be) of
stronger construction
5 If there (be) a good breeze on Sunday, we'll go hang-gliding.
6 You can get there more quickly if you (take) the short cut across the
railway bridge,
7 If you (leave) the milk out of the fridge in this weather, it'll go off,
8 Would you contribute to the fund if I (ask) you?
9 If I (drop) Eve's vase,.she'd have been furious.
10 If you (be) really my friend, you'd lend me the money.
11 Had the councillors been re-elected, your proposal (be) accepted.
12 Productivity will improve if manufacturing procedures (be)
streamlined
13 (Be) you to take out the relevant insurance policy, you would be
completely covered.
14 No matter what (happen), I'11 always stand by him!
15 Supposing the computer (break down), what would you do?
16 You can invite whoever you (like) to the barbecue. .

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B Rewrite the sentences 1 The policeman showed me the rtray, so I found the house
using the introductory If
words given.
2 lf I'd gone to the party, I'd have met Melanie.
Had
3 If the news turns out to be true, I'II sell my shares at once.
Should
4 If he fails the final examination, he wonft be able to graduate,
Unless
5 If the guests arrived this week, there'd be no rooms available.
Were the guests
6 He would have lent you his violin if you'd asked him,
Had you
7 Should you persist in defying instructions, we'll be forced to act.
Ifyou
8 Because the evidence was withheld, the prisoner was found guilty
Had the evidence
9 If you changed your mind, you'd be welcome to join us.
Were you
10 The dog was muzzledn so it didn't hurt anyone
If

I wish/lf only + Past Simple are used to express a wish or regret about a
current situation, by imagining its opposite:
, ,
lwish (that) Mark knew about it. lf only Mark knew about it!
(Sadly, Mark doesn't know about it.)
Notice also:
, lwould rather Mark knew aboutif. (a.preference rather than a wish)
c lt's time (that) Mark knew aboutit (ln my opinion he should,)
I wish/lf only + would are used for a future wish - something we would like
to happen:
, lf only Mark would come back! (l'm afraid he won't,)
t I wish you'd stop doing that, (You're annoying me.)

I wish/lf only + Past Perfect are used for a past wish or regret:
, lwkh someone had told Mark about it.
Note that we use could instead of would with wish when the subject
pronouns are the'same:
t lwish lcould see hlm, (NOT *lwish lwould see him,)
Were is often used instead of was after wish and lf only:
,I wish Luke were here.

As iflas though are often used in similar hypothetical situations:

o Don't treat me as if I were a child.
. He spoke as though he had been insulted.

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€ t.teich the correct wish or
-3lfeî on thd left with the
;.:.aiion on the right.
1 If oniy he would tell her!
2 I wish he had stayed.
3 If only we knew what to do!
4 I wish he had told her.
5 I wish we'd known what to do.
6 lt's time he stopped smoking.
7 I'd rather he stayed.
8 If only he'd stopped smoking!
A It's a pity he didn't tell her,
B We have no idea what to do,
C We didn't know what to do.
D I'd like him to tell her.
E lt's a pity he didn't stay.
F I'd like him to stay, if possible.
G I think he should stop smoking
H He should have stopped
smoking.

9 icmplete the sentences,
;sing the correct tense of
:re verb in brackets.
o 3 Supposing she (not agree), what would you do next?
1 No matter how mâny people (come) tonight, we'li all have a great
time!
2 He looked at me as if I Qust land) from the moon,
4 However late you (be), there'Il be a warm welcome for you,
5 Wherever they (end up), I'm sure they'llbe happy.
6 It seemed as though nobody (think) of the obvious flaw in the plan'
7 We'lI go along with the deal, provided we (receive) our fair share of
the profits.
8 I wish the firm (not go) bankrupt, but the shares would stil1 have
been worthless.
9 Supposing the police (not come), what would you have done?
10 I'd be on your side even if you (not be) my friend'
11 He stared at me. It was as if he (not hear) a word I'd said.
12 However diflicult you (find) the test, just try to complete it.

E Make a new sentence for 1 .What a pity he's so boring!

each situation, starting 2 It was a mistake of mine, accepting that job.
with / wrsh.
3 How unfortunate that they all heard about it!
o 4 It'd be useful to have shares in the company' but I haven't any
5 Is it ever going to stoP snowing?
6 I should have gone to the conference.
? I simply can't remember Myra's address'
8 I'd iike him to contribute his opinions more tactfully'

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 7A You said it! conditionals

If I hadn't come to class today, I'd now.

ffi r.l
F êCI
If the sun is shining, I often
=<
ËÀ
i.o
Ëg
1âF
(ôo
<r If I'm not going to have time to , I usually
J6-
C.)

If I could fly anywhere, !'d fly to

lf I ha.dn't been workingistudyrng last week, I

If I'd had time to yesterday, Ild ......................, now.

If I get up early at the weekend, I usually

If I weren't so I .. last month.

If I'm rælly enjoyrng a book, I

If I hadnt started learning English, I wouldn't

If I have some free time tomorroq I might

If I werent lMag I ..,............

lf I'm going to be late home, I usua[y

If it hadn't been raining last ........................... , I'd

If I need to relax, I .........

If I meet up with friends this week, we'll probably

@ Gambridge University Press 2009 lnstructions p127