Exercises

Exercise 1

Comment on the mood of the verb in the following sentences:

1. I’ll help you if I can.

2. Shut the door after you!

3. She didn’t know where she was and what had happened.

4. I remember it so clearly as if it had happened only yesterday.

5. She promised she would be calm.

6. She wouldn’t be calm if she knew what has happened.

7. She said she didn’t know me.

8. Don’t look at me as if you didn’t know me.

9. The article wasn’t difficult and I could translate it.

10. If I had a dictionary I could translate the article.

11. If I hadn’t told him, he would never have known.

12. She was sure I had not told him the bad news.

Exercise 2

Comment on the use of the Subjunctive Mood and translate the sentences into Ukrainian.

1. You were very kind to that foreigner, Dick. I wish that we could see him.

2. Dora wished she had got her book out of the suitcase before the train started.

3. I wish I had thought of it before. It’s a good idea.

4. He nodded his head to her and turned hastily in the direction of his own room. He wished she had not seen him. He wished she had not been there.

5. He wished heartily that Mildred had not consulted him.

6. It was a beautiful idea. I wished I had thought of it myself.

7. I wish I could feel sure about it.

8. Don’t you wish you had come earlier?

9. It seemed as though he wished to speak, but feared to give offence.

10. I remember now that his colour had gone in a moment and he seemed to breathe as if he had been running.

11. Her eyes had shadows as though she had not slept.

12. Suddenly he smiled and spoke in a changed voice, as if he were confiding a secret.

13. She looked content, as though she had been waiting for this moment all day.

14. Hugh was surprised and annoyed and chilled as if the temperature of the room were sinking steadily.

15. And you behave as if we were two people who were acquainted.

16. You’re almost grown-up now, and I’m going to talk to you as if you were grown-up. And you must help me.

17. They stared at each other in the silence of the house, and it was as if they were listening for distant footsteps.

18. There was a curious carefulness about his manner, as though he were concealing some pain.

19. Even if you only thought that I could be of any help to you, I’d be very glad. I’d be very happy to be allowed to stay around.

20. Why say it even if it were true?

21. I should get there even if I had to walk all the way.

22. Even though you asked him twice he would do it again; he is a stubborn boy.

23. You couldn’t have got in touch with him even if you had tired; he wasn’t in town.

24. Had we known in time we could have prevented the catastrophe.

25. “You see,” said Randall, “I wouldn’t go if you didn’t want me to.”

26. I think it would be natural if you joined them.

27. “Would everything have been different if mother hadn’t died?” she thought.

28. No doubt somebody would have noticed if she hadn’t been there.

29. If only father were alive!

30. If only it were true!

31. If only I could believe that!

32. If only he had told you the whole story!

33. If only she were with us!

34. If only I hadn’t mentioned his name! How foolish of me!

Exercise 3

Comment on the use of the Subjunctive Mood in object clauses after the verb ‘to wish’ and translate the sentences into Ukrainian.

1. He wished now that when the director of his firm spoke to him he had answered differently.

2. I wish I knew how you reach your results.

3. I only wish that you could come with me.

4. She wished that it had been possible not to cause those two people such fearful distress.

5. I wished I hadn’t wasted so much money when I got there.

6. I wish I deserved your compliments. I don’t.

7. He had nothing against skiing – he wished he had had the time to take it up when he was a young man.

8. He wished he felt more conviction on the point.

9. I wish I hadn’t sent him that letter telling him to take care of himself.

10. I know this is none of my business. But I wish I knew what it’s all about.

11. I only wish it had lasted twice as long.

12. I always remember everything. Some people wish I didn’t.

Exercise 4

Read these sentences, the words in brackets make their meaning fuller.

1. I wish I knew how to drive a car. (At the time of speaking, the speaker doesn’t know how to drive a car)

Or:

I don’t know how to drive a car. I wish I did.

b) I wish today was a holiday. (But today is not a holiday)

c) I wish I had more time to read. (At the time of speaking the speaker hasn’t got much time to read)

d) I wish I could travel round the world. (At the time of speaking, the speaker can’t travel round the world. Perhaps he hasn’t got enough money, or time.)

e) The father told his children, ”I wish you wouldn’t make so much noise. I’ve got a headache.” (When the father says this, his children are making a lot of noise.)

Add to each of the following examples 2 sentences, both beginning: “I wish…”.

Model:

1. I don’t understand this question. – I wish I did. I wish I understood this question.

2. It’s still raining. – I wish it wasn’t. I wish it wasn’t still raining.

3. My father can’t give me more pocket money. – I wish he could. I wish he could give me more pocket money.

1. My brother doesn’t have a very long holiday.

2. I can’t play the piano.

3. My tooth is aching.

4. I sometimes make careless mistakes.

5. He’s not coming to see me today.

6. I can’t swim well.

7. I don’t know how to answer this question.

8. He always drives too fast.

9. I don’t speak English fluently.

10. I can’t go to the cinema this evening.

11. The teacher gives us a lot of homework.

12. My father doesn’t come home from work early.

13. I live a long way from my work.

14. Our television set is broken.

15. I can’t sell my old bicycle.

Exercise 5

Add to each of the following a sentence, beginning: “I wish…” (to express the same wish in the past). The words in brackets will help you to form your sentences.

Model: I wish I knew how to drive a car. – I wish I had known how to drive a car in 1980.

1. The shoes I bought last month are too small for me. (a bigger pair)

2. I sat at the back of the hall, and I couldn’t hear his speech very well. (every word)

3. I was late this morning; I didn’t wake up until eight o’clock. (earlier)

4. There were no taxis, so I had to walk from the station. (to find)

5. I went to bed very late last night, and I’m half asleep this morning. (so late)

6. I could only answer three of the questions in the last examination. (all of them)

7. I think the fish I ate last night was bad. (not to eat)

8. My father gave me some good advice, but I didn’t take it. (his advice)

9. One of my friends went to London for a holiday last summer, but I couldn’t go. (with him)

10. I gave my dictionary to my sister, and now I want it. (to her)

11. There was so much noise in the streets last night that I couldn’t sleep well. (better)

12. There was a very good film on last night, but I didn’t see it.

13. We went for a picnic yesterday, but it rained all the time. (so hard)

14. I was lazy and wasted my time when I was at school. (harder)

15. I didn’t understand what he said yesterday.

16. I made careless mistakes in the last dictation.

Exercise 6

Practise the following according to the models.

Model 1: I know five languages. – I wish I knew five languages. (stress on the second “I”). Or: If only I knew five languages! (this form is much more dramatic and less generally useful than the “I wish” form).

1. I have a flat here.

2. I live near my work.

3. I have plenty of time for reading.

4. I understand it.

5. My son writes every week.

6. My house looks out on a park.

7. I can take a day off any time.

Model 2: I asked Bill. – I wish you’d asked Tom too. Or: If only you’d asked Tom too. (“had” is normally contracted here)

1. I invited Paul.

2. I stopped Mary.

3. I rang Ann.

4. I wrote to Alec.

5. I spoke to John.

6. I warned Philip.

7. I voted for Peter.

Exercise 7

Make ‘I wish’ sentences for the following situations.

Model: I’m poor. – I wish I had more money.

1. I live in a tiny house in the suburbs.

2. I’ve got a boring job.

3. My car is 15 years old.

4. My sister doesn’t understand me.

5. My children never listen to a word I say.

6. I never have time to do the things I like.

7. I hardly ever see my friends.

Exercise 8

What wishes do you have about your own life? Write down a few and then tell your partner about them.

I wish I was / were…

wasn’t / weren’t so…

had …/ didn’t have…

lived…

could…

might… etc.

Exercise 9

Complete the sentences, use the following words:

• Sensible

• Seriously

• Adventurous

• Anxious

• Fun

• Risks

• Enjoy

1. I wish I’d been more_______

2. I wish I’d been less_______

3. I wish I’d taken more_______

4. If only I’d had more ______

5. I wish I hadn’t been so _______

6. I wish I hadn’t taken life so _______

7. If only I’d done more of one things I _______

Translate the sentences into Ukrainian.