Past unreal conditionals and past wishes

The Past Unreal Conditional is used to talk about imaginary situations in the past. It is used to imagine different outcomes due to different decisions or actions in different circumstances for example:

• If I had gone out less, I would probably have studied more.
• I would have travelled more if I had had more time.
• If I had studied French at school, I would have got the job.
• Danny would have got the promotion if he hadn't insulted the boss's wife.

With the Past Unreal Conditional only 'if' can be used when the situations discussed are imaginary. 'When' cannot be used.

Giving advice 

Unreal conditionals beginning with If I had been you can be used as an indirect way of giving advice. The If clause is often ommited. Unreal conditionals sound softer than modals like should have.

Advice with past unreal conditionals

(If I'd been you,) I would have left early.

Advice with modals

You should have left early.

Restating Past unreal conditionals with but

Often, a sentence with would have is used without an if condition. Instead, the main clause is joined to the true (not imaginay) sentence with but. The true sentence with but implies the unreal past condition.

True sentence with but

I would have watched the tennis match, But I had to study.

I would have left earlier, but my car didn't start.

Past unreal conditional

I would have watched the tennis match If I hadn't had to study.

I would have left earlier if my car had started.

Past Wishes

Past wish sentences refer to past situation that did not occur. They express a desire to change something that happened in the past.

Examples:

I wish the weather had been nice yesterday (it rained yesterday)

I wish you could have seen the movie. (You didn't see the movie)

Expressing regret or dissatisfaction

When you use a past wish sentence, you express regret or dissatisfaction about a past situation.

Example:

I wish I had gone to the meeting. I completely forgot about it. I wish someone had called to remind me. 

Using If only

If only is often used in place of a past  wish to express strong regret. If only  sentences focus on the wish to change a negative outcome.

Examples:

If only I hadn't lost my wallet!

If only the war had ended sooner!

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PRACTICE

real conditionals, unreal conditionals and wishes

Present conditional:

In a present conditional sentence, the if–clause  states a particular activity or situation (a condition). The result-clause states a fact or observation as the result of the situation in the if–clause. The present tense is used in both clauses.

Important If / When

Both "if" and "when" are used in the Present Real Conditional. Using "if" suggests that something happens less frequently. Using "when" suggests that something happens regularly.

Examples:

• When I have a day off from work, I usually go to the beach.
• If I have a day off from work, I usually go to the beach.

When the if clause comes first, it is followed by a comma. Then is usually ommited before the main clause, but it is always implied.

Example:

If I'm on time, (then) I walk to work

When the main clause is first, there is no comma and then is not used. The meaning is the same.

Example:

I walk to work if I'm on time.  

Future conditional:

n a future conditional sentence, the result-clause states a prediction as the result of the situation in the if- clause.  The simple present tense is used in the if–clause, and a modal (will, can, may, might, shall) is used in the result-clause.

If and Unless

Sentences with unless in the dependent clause often have the same meaning as sentences with negative if clause.

Unless

Unless the cab comes at three, you wont make it to the airport.

Unless you finish your work, We will lose the account

If

If the cab doesn't come at three, you won't make it to the airport

If you don't finish your work, we will lose the account.

Present and future unreal conditionals:

IF + SIMPLE PAST (THEN) WOULD, COULD OR MIGHT +VERB

We can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because it's not true.

• If I had his number, I would call him. (I don't have his number now, so it's impossible for me to call him).
• If I were you, I wouldn't go out with that man.

Giving advice and opinions

Unreal conditionals beginning with If I were you can be used as an indirect way of giving advice. Unreal conditionals sound softer than modals like should or ought to.

Advice with unreal conditionals

If I were you I'd speak to the instructor.

Advice with modals

You should speak to the instructor.

Asking permission

Unreal conditionals with would you mind, would it bother you, or would it be OK can be used to ask for permission. Notice that a negative response to the first two questions means you are giving permission.

Permission with unreal conditionals

Would you mind if I opened the window?

No, go right ahead

Permission with modals

May I open the window?

Yes, go right ahead

Wishes

wish clause            that clause

Simple present       (that+) past form

I wish                     (that) I were older

I wish                     (that) I didn't have a cold  

         

Use wish to express a desire for something that does not exist now. It is a desire to change a real situation into an unreal or impossible one. As in unreal conditional sentences, the past form does not indicate past time, it indicates that the situation is unreal. The past form can be simple past, past continuous, could or would.  

Wishes about the present

I wish I were living in chicago

I wish I could swim, but I can't

Wishes about the future

I wish you would come with me tonight

I wish You were coming with me tonight

I wish you could come with me tonight

Using If only

sentences with If only often have a similar meaning to sentences with wish, but they are more empathic.

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practice

Gerunds

Gerunds as subjects:

A gerund can function as de the subject of a sentence. Gerunds function as singular nouns and take singular verbs. A gerund can be replaced by the pronoun it.

Gerunds after verbs:

We sometimes use one verb after another verb. Often the second verb is in the to-infinitive form, for example:

• I want to eat.

But sometimes the second verb must be in gerund form, for example:

• I dislike eating.

Here are some examples of verbs followed by gerunds:

-advise  -consider  -deny  -enjoy  -go  -miss  -practice  -suggest

-avoid -delay -dislike -finish -mind -postpone -recommed.

Examples:

They postponed holding the marathon race      

 He enjoys creating new sounds.         

Gerunds after preposition:

Preposition + gerund

If a verb comes after a preposition such as in, at, with, about, of, on, etc.the verb  must end in-ing. Let's see the following examples :

1. I'm interested in working for you.
2. She's very good at singing slow songs.
3. He's fed up with listening to his complaints.
4. Indonesian people are excited about going on Idul Fitri holiday.

Verb + preposition + gerund

There are a lot of verbs with preposition can be followed by gerund. Here are the verbs and their prepositions.

1. succeed in
2. dream of
3. think of
4. think about
5. approve of
6. disapprove of
7. look forward to
8. insist on
9. decide against
10. apologise for

Let's see the following examples :

1. Have you succeeded in finding a good job?
2. I always dream of being rich.

Verb + object + preposition + gerunds

The following verbs have the structure : verb + object + preposition + -ing.

1. accuse .......of
2. suspect .........of
3. congratulate...... on
4. prevent .........from
5. stop .......... from
6. thank ............. for
7. forgive.......... for
8. warn ......... against

Let's see the following examples :

1. They accused me of stealing the book.
2. The police suspected the man of being a spy.
3. The headmaster congratulated him on getting the highest score on exam.
4. Please prevent the baby from eating the soil.

practice

infinitives

To sneeze, to smash, to cry, to shriek, to jump, to dunk, to read, to eat. All of these are infinitives. An infinitive will almost always begin with to followed by the simple form of the verb.

FUNCTIONS OF THE INFINITIVE

The to-infinitive is used in many sentence constructions, often expressing the purpose of something or someone's opinion about something. The to-infinitive is used following a large collection of different verbs as well.

THE TO-INFINITIVE TO INDICATE THE PURPOSE OR INTENTION OF AN ACTION

In this case to has the same meaning as in order to or so as to.

EXAMPLES

• She came to collect her pay cheque.

• The three bears went to find firewood.

• I am calling to ask you about dad.

• You sister has gone to finish her homework.

THE TO-INFINITIVE AS THE SUBJECT OF THE SENTENCE

This is a formal usage and is far more common in written English than spoken.

EXAMPLES

• The children need a garden to play in.
• I would like a sandwich to eat.
• I don't have anything to wear.
• Would you like something to drink?

 THE TO-INFINITIVE AFTER ADJECTIVES

There is a common pattern using the to-infinitive with an adjective. These phrases are formed:
subject + to be + adjective + (for/of someone) + to-infinitive + (rest of sentence)

EXAMPLES:

• it is good of you to talk with me.
• it is important to jake to be patient with his sister.

THE TO-INFINITIVE WITH ADVERBS 

The to-infinitive is used frequently with the adverbs too and enough to express the reasoning behind our satisfaction or insatisfaction. The pattern is that too and enough are placed before or after the adjective, adverb, or noun that they modify in the same way they would be without the to-infinitive. We then follow them by the to-infinitive to explain the reason why the quantity is excessive, sufficient, or insufficient. Normally the to-infinitive and everything that follows can be removed, leaving a sentence that still functions grammatically.

EXAMPLES

• There's too much sugar to put in this bowl.
• I had too many books to carry.
• This soup is too hot to eat.
• She was too tired to work.
• He arrived too late to see the actors.

Short answers to questions with infinitives

short answers in response to questions with infinitives can contain the main verb + to.

EXAMPLE:

Do you plan to take a vacation soon? yes, I plan to / no, I don't expect to.

If you begina short answer with an infinitive, to is omitted.

EXAMPLE:

What do you want to do later? take a walk

when you join two or more infinitives with and or or, to appears only with the first infinitive.

EXAMPLE:

Do you want to eat out or make dinner at home?

passive voice

Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action.

  How do we make the passive?

The basic structure of a passive clause is very simple:

subject	+	auxiliary verb be	+	main verb past participle	+	by	+	agent(optional)

Use of the passive

When and why do we use passive voice?

There are several times when the passive voice is useful, and usually the decision has to do with the agent or the "receiver" of the action. For example, we use the passive when:

1. we want to emphasize the receiver of the action:

• President Kennedy was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald.

2. we don't know who did the action (the agent):

• My wallet has been stolen.

3. the agent is obvious:

• I am paid weekly.

4. we want to avoid responsibility for our own actions (typically found in government reports):

• Mistakes were made and unfortunately never rectified.

How to make the Passive

We make the passive by putting the verb 'to be' into whatever tense we need and then adding the past participle. For regular verbs, we make the past participle by adding 'ed' to the infinitive.

Verbs with no passive voice

Verbs that cannot be followed by objects are called intransitive verbs

here are common intransitive verbs:

-appear     -come     -die      - go    -look    -rain    - stay

-arrive   -cry    -emerge    -happen    -occur    -sleep    -walk         

Transitive nonpassive verbs verbs that can be followed by objects are called transitive verbs. Most transitive verbs have passive forms, but some do not. Notice how the passive form of fit  does not make sense in english

active                                                                passive

the dress fits valerie.                                  valerie is fit by the dress.

Verbs that are intransitive or transitive some verbs can be transitive or intransitive. When they are intransitive they do not have passive forms. 

For example:

-begin -break -close -end -freeze -open -start -stop                                                      

active vs passive voice 

passive voice in tv series

practice