M5 - Grammar

Online Coursebook

01 "If I do... and if I did..." (First vs. Second Conditional)

• Comparing real/possible future possibilities ("if we take the bus") with imagined or unlikely situations ("if we took the bus").
• Using the past tense form ("if I found") to talk about present or future unlikely situations.
• Using "would/wouldn't" in the main clause for imagined outcomes.
• Using "could" and "might" as alternatives to "would".

02: "if I knew... I wish I knew..." (Present Imagined Situations)

• Using "if + past" to imagine a situation that is different from present reality.
• Using "wish + past" to express regret that a present situation is not how you want it to be.
• Using "were" instead of "was" after "if" and "wish".
• The difference between "wish I could" meaning "would be able to" versus "was able to".

03: "if I had known... I wish I had known..." (Past Imagined Situations)

• Using "if + had + past participle" (Third Conditional) to talk about past events that did not happen.
• Contrasting present conditionals ("if I was hungry") with past conditionals ("if I had been hungry").
• Using "wish + had + past participle" to express regret about past actions or events.
• Comparing "would have," "could have," and "might have" for past imagined outcomes.

04: Uses of "Wish" Review

• Using "wish" with nouns (e.g., "wish somebody luck") versus using "hope" for future events.
• Using "wish + past" for present regrets and "wish + past perfect" for past regrets.
• Using "wish + could / could have" to express regret about inability.
• Using "I wish... would..." to complain about a situation or express a desire for somebody's behavior to change.