Сослагательное наклонение в предложениях с глаголом wish

При употреблении глагола wish (желать, хотеть) в главном предложении придаточное предложение представляется нереальным, оно будет выражаться следующим образом (в скобках дан дословный перевод):

I wish she came here now.(Я желаю, (чтобы) она пришла сюда сейчас.)– Жаль, что она не пришла сейчас.

I wished she had come here at that time.(Я хотел, (чтобы) она пришла сюда тогда.)–(Было) жаль, что она не пришла тогда.

I wish I had bought a car at that time.(Я хотел бы, (чтобы) я купил машину тогда.)– Жаль, что я не купил машину тогда.

Как видно из вышеприведенных примеров, предложения с глаголом wish часто соответствуют русским предложениям, выражающим сожаление, например: Как жаль, что... или Мне жаль, что... и т. д. При этом действие в русском предложении становится отрицательным, если в английском языке оно было утвердительным, и наоборот.

В данной конструкции могут употребляться только прошедшие времена (Past Simple, Past Continuous, Past Perfect, Past Perfect Continuous).

I wish I were in London now.– Жаль, что я сейчас не в Лондоне.

I wished I were in London.– Было жаль, что я не в Лондоне.

I wished I had been to London.– Было жаль, что я не был в Лондоне.

I wish I were going to London now.– Жаль, что я не еду сейчас в Лондон.

I wish I were not in London now.– Жаль, что я сейчас в Лондоне.

I wished I were not in London.– Было жаль, что я в Лондоне.

I wished I had not been to London.– Было жаль, что я был в Лондоне.

I wish I were not going to London now.– Жаль, что я еду сейчас в Лондон.

Exercises

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form.

I.1. If I had this tool, I (give) it to you.

2. If he worked more slowly, he (not make) so many mistakes.

3. I could give you his address if I (know) it.

4. He might get fat if he (stop) smoking.

5. If he knew you were away, he (not come).

6. I (keep) a gardener if I could afford it.

7. What would you do if the lift (get) stuck between two floors.

8. He (not go) there if his family were not invited.

9. The car wouldn't break so often if you (have) it serviced regularly.

II.1. If I (know) her better, I (introduce) you.

2. The journey takes about 3 hours by bus. You (get) there much sooner, if you (go) by train.

3. If I (have) money with me then, I (can lend) you some.

4. He couldn't find job when he came to Germany. If he (like) children, he (work) at school.

5. The teacher told Peter that he (not pass) the exam if he (not work) harder.

2. I. Use might instead of would to give the meaning of perhaps.

1. She's getting fat. If she (not eat) much sweet, she (lose) weight. 2. I didn't watch the film yesterday. If I (have) some free time yesterday, I (watch) it.
3. She feels very tired in the morning. If she (go) to bed earlier, she (not feel) so tired. 4. He's not a strong man. If he (go) to the fitting center, he (be) stronger.

II. Use could instead of would to give the meaning of possible.

1. We (understand) the English teacher better if she (speak) more slowly. 2. I like reading but we don't have books in our country house. If I (have) books there, I (read) a lot in summer. 3. I don't know where he's living now. If I (know) his address, I (write) tohim. 4. Roberta is very pretty but rather short. If she (be) taller, she (be) a model.

Answer the questions in complete sentences.

I. 1. To which town / city would you go if you didn't need a visa?

2. Who would you ask to dance if you had the choice?

3. Could you come to the Institute on Sunday if the teacher asked you?

4. How would you feel if you won a thousand dollars?

5. Could you wake up at 5 a.m. if none called you?

6. Could you cook your own dinner if your mother asked you?

II. 1. If you had been born in 1950, what would you be now?

2. If you had been late for this lesson, would you have apologised to the teacher?

3. What would you have done if you had been the Rector of the University?

4. Could you have answered these questions correctly if you had been absent at the last lesson?

Replace the Infinitives in brackets by the right form of the verb.

Model: If I were you, I (read) the book in the original.

– If I were you, I would read the book in the original.

If I had known how dull the film was, I (not / go) to the cinema.

– If I had known how dull the film was, I would not have gone to the cinema.

1. They (go) to the beach if it were warmer. 2. If the poem were not so long, I (learn) it by heart. 3. Even if it were not so late I don't think I (go) to the cinema. 4. Even though he knew how difficult the situation was, he (not stop) the preparations. 5. Even if I had a dictionary, I don't believe I (be able) to write the test. 6. Even if you had given her your car, she (cannot arrive) in so short a time. 7. Even if I wanted to, I (can do) nothing now. 8. If you really wanted to buy the house, you (can do) it even now.

Replace the Infinitives in brackets by the right form of the verb.

Model: If I (know) about it, I (help) you.

– If I had known about it, I would have helped you.

1. The place is very dull. Even if it (not be raining) the whole week, we (not enjoy) our holiday. 2. If you (not interfere), they (forget) all about it in an hour. 3. If you (trust) me, I (can lead) you safely through. 4. The dinner (not be spoiled) if you (not forget) the dish in the oven. 5. She (know) how to behave if she (be) a born lady. 6. He (not take) this case even if he (be asked). 7. The accident (not happen) if you (be) more attentive. 8. She (go) there even though she (have) to walk all the way. 9. None (mind) if he (be dismissed). 10. Someone (may notice) if she (open) the letter.

6. Compose conditional sentences on the basis of the following statements:

Model:It's raining hard. We can't go out. If it were not raining so hard, we could go out.

I have no dictionary. I shan't finish the translation today. If I had
a dictionary, I would finish the translation today.

The goal-keeper was hurt early in the game. The team lost. If the goal-keeper had not been hurt early in the game, the team would not have lost.

1. She thought of her future and refused to marry the young man.

2. He was deep in his thoughts and did not notice the "no parking" sign.

3. I have a lot of work to do, I can't go to the pictures.

4. There is no one to sit with the baby, I have to stay at home.

5. The rain has stopped at last, and we began to enjoy ourselves.

6. She did not think of the consequences and agreed to forge (подделать) the document.

7. There were so many people there that nobody noticed his absence.

8. We don't like cheese. We don't buy it.

9. He lost his temper and said things he did not really mean.

10. I don't know your cousin, I can't meet her at the station.

7. Compose sentences according to the model. Use but for + noun/pronoun.

Model: I don't want to tell you this, but I promised to. But for my promise,I would tell you this.

He didn't die. The operation saved him. But for the operation he would have died.

1. He wants to go swimming but the water is cold. 2. He couldn't see us off as he was busy at the office. 3. She wasn't alone in the house, her husband was asleep in his room. 4. I want to go but I have an examination tomorrow. 5. In the end he went to see the doctor. His wife made him do it. 6. It began to rain and we didn't go for a walk. 7. We couldn't have a picnic. The weather was too bad. 8. Of course I want to help you but I have a conference today. 9. He had a good guide so he could see all the sights. 10. You can't prepare the contract because the computer is out of order.