- •If a person is independent, he or she is more likely to try new things.
- •In 1900, after Albert Einstein had graduated from the
- •If a company is innovative, it will take action.
- •If a company doesn't try something new, another
- •I wish I were skiing.
- •I wish I had more free time. If I had more free time, I
- •If I weren't so careless, I would do better on tests.
- •If I were you, I would go to an eye doctor.
- •If I were you, I would have my eyes checked.
- •If I had visited New York, I could have seen the Statue
- •If Boston had not valued its past, it would not have
- •I would have been born in the middle of a
- •In the weather.
- •2. Cirrus Clouds
- •3. Clouds and Oceans
- •Island by reading the clouds.
- •In parts of the world, rainfall is so sparse that people
- •Islamic Empire, which was the center of Western
- •In her book Emma, Jane Austen wrote that business
- •I wonder why it is sometimes difficult for people to
I wish I were skiing.
1. I'd rather be sailing.
2. We'd rather be jogging.
3. I'd rather be in Paris.
4. I'd rather be windsurfing.
5. We'd rather be playing tennis.
6. I'd rather be in Rio.
On Your Own Right now you are studying English. As you are
reading this, what do you wish you were doing (or not doing)? Give
at least six sentences.
Example: I wish I were swimming. I wish I didn't have to do this
work. I wish I could go to the beach. . . .
Exercise 20: Wish
In pairs, take turns making statements and responses.
Use the example as a model. Change nouns to pronouns when
necessary.
Example: My cousin had the chance to study abroad.
My cousin had the chance to study abroad.
Don't you wish that you had had the chance to study
abroad, too?
Of course. (Or: Not really.)
1. My nephew went to Japan last year.
2. My brother got a scholarship at the university.
3. My father learned to speak German.
4. My niece worked in South America.
5. My sister got her degree in business.
6. My sister-in-law took a lot of computer classes.
On Your Own Each of us has to make choices, and sometimes
we make the wrong ones. Think of three bad choices that you have
made: in your studies, your career, or some recent decision or
problem. Looking back, what do you wish that you had done?
Create at least four sentences telling what you wish you had done.
Activity The verbs hope and wish often represent the attitudes
of the optimist and the pessimist. The optimist hopes that
everything will work out, while the pessimist wishes it would. In
small groups, write short dialogues that include people who are
optimistic and people who are pessimistic. The dialogue may be
serious or it may be comical. Here are some suggestions for topics:
1. The menu at the dormitory tonight: Imagine that you all live
in a dormitory. The food is notoriously bad! Some of you would
like to send the cook to the moon or at least to a cooking school.
Yet a few of you try to be kind in your attitude toward the cook.
You optimistically hope for a miracle.
2. The first date with a new boy friend/girlfriend: Most of us are
nervous before a first date. Imagine that you are going out with
a new person tonight. You will have to meet his or her family,
and you hope to make a good impression on everyone. Yet, you
are worried about not saying and doing the right things.
Be sure to include a role for everyone in your group. After you
have finished, role-play your dialogues for the class.
Exercise 21:
Complete the following sentences in your own words.
1. I don't have much money this month; otherwise, I might....
2. I have a lot of homework tonight; otherwise, we could. . . .
3. I am out of shape; otherwise, I . . . .
4. I'm afraid of the ocean; otherwise....
5. I don't know how to ... ; otherwise....
Exercise 22: Imaginative Conditional Sentences
Present or Unspecified Time
Imaginative conditional sentences express conditions that the
speaker or writer thinks of as unlikely, untrue, or contrary to fact.
They may be wishes and dreams, or they may express advice to others.
The following conditional sentences refer to the moment of
speaking or to habitual activities, depending on the context.
If I had more money, I might travel.
If I spent less money, I could save more.
If I were rich, I would visit every country.
If I were you, I would try to save more money.
A modal auxiliary is used in
the main clause. The subjunctive
is used in the if clause.
In most cases, this form is
the same as the simple past
tense. For the verb be, however,
were is used for all persons
in formal English.
Answer the following questions in your own words.
1. Where would you be if you weren't here (in this class, city, etc.)?
What might you be doing?
2. If you had the chance to go anywhere you wanted, where might
you go? Where would you go if you could return to some place
for another visit?
3. If you could travel differently, how would you go?
4. If you were able to go back in time, which year or era would
you choose? Why would you choose that time?
5. If you had the opportunity to talk with a special person again,
who would it be? Why?
6. If you were able to do a part of your life over, what would you
do differently?
Exercise 23:
Add to the following statements by making a sentence with if.
Example: I wish I had more free time. If. . . .