In case

We use in case to talk about precautions - things we do to be ready for what might happen. After in case we use a present tense to talk about the future.

• I've bought a chicken in case your mother stays to lunch.

• I wrote down her address in case I forgot it.

We can use should... after in case - this gives the idea of 'by chance'. Should is common in sentences about the past.

• I've bought a chicken in case your mother should stay to lunch.

• I wrote down her address in case I should forget it.

In case is not the same as if. Compare:

I'll buy a bottle of wine (now) in case Roger comes (later).

I'll buy a bottle of wine (later) if Roger comes (and if he doesn't come I won't).

wish

The verb to wish is followed by an 'unreal' past tense when we want to talk about situations in the present that we are not happy about but cannot change:

• I wish I had more money (=but I haven't)

• She wishes she was beautiful (= but she's not)

• We wish we could come to your party (=but we can't)

When we want to talk about situations in the past that we are not happy about or actions that we regret, we use the verb to wish followed by the past perfect:

• I wish I hadn't said that (= but I did)

• He wishes he hadn't bought the car (= but he did buy it.)

• I wish I had taken that job in New York (= but I didn't, so I'm stuck in Bristol)

NOTE: When we want to talk about situations we are not happy about and where we want someone else to change them, we use to wish followed by would + infinitive:

• I wish he would stop smoking. (= I don't like it, I want him to change it)

• I wish you would go away. (= I don't want you here, I want you to take some action)

• I wish you wouldn't squeeze the toothpaste from the middle! (= I want you to change your habits.)

I'd rather and it's time...

Infinitives are possible after it’s time and would rather (= ‘would prefer’). Would rather is followed by an infinitive without to.

It’s time to buy a new car.

It’s time for him to go to bed.

She doesn’t want to go out. She’d rather stay at home.

These two expressions are also followed by an unreal past. The verb is in the past tense, but the situation is in the present.

When we want to talk about a course of action we would prefer someone else to take, we use I'd rather + past tense:

• I'd rather you went

• He'd rather you called the police

• I'd rather you didn't hunt elephants.

NOTE: the stress can be important in these sentences, to show what our preference is:

• I'd rather you went = not me

• I'd rather you went = don't stay

• He'd rather you called the police = he doesn't want to

• He'd rather you called the police = not the ambulance service

Similarly, when we want to say that now is a suitable moment to do something, either for ourselves or for someone else, we use it's time + past tense:

• It's (high) time I went.

• It's time you paid that bill.

• Don't you think it's time you had a haircut?

Ex. 1. If or when?

Note the difference between if and when. If: something may happen. When: something definitely happens.

1. _____ I become President

2. _____ it gets dark

3. _____ the film finishes

4. _____ she passes her exam

5. _____ it doesn't rain tomorrow

6. _____ I wake up tomorrow

7. _____ you change your mind

8. _____ his parents die

9. _____ the bus stops

Ex. 2. Put the correct verb forms.

1. If you (say ) that again, I (scream).

2. I (be) surprised if she ( manage) to sell that car.

3. If the boys (come) to supper, I (cook) smth. tasty.

4. I (need) some money if we (go) out tonight.

5. I (miss) you if we (move) to Wales.

6. If you ( wash) up, I (dry).

7. Ann (be) sorry if Helen (not come).

8. If you (get) lonely, I hope you (phone) me - any time.

9. If you (look) in the top drawer, you (find) your passport.

10. It (be) funny if Norman (get) the job.

11. If I was offered the job, I think I (take) it.

12. I’m sure Tom will lend you some money. I would be very surprised if he (refuse).

13. Many people would be out of work if that factory (close) down.

14. If she sold her car, she (not/get) much money for it.

15. They’re expecting us. They would be disappointed if we (not/come).

16. Would George be angry if I (take) his bike without asking?

17. Ann gave me this ring. She (be) terribly upset if I lost it.

18. If someone (walk) in here with a gun, I’d be very frightened.

19. What would happen if you (not/go) to work tomorrow?

20. I’m sure she (understand) if you explained the situation to her.

21. The kitchen (look) better if we (have) red curtains.

22. If I (know) his address, I (go) round and see him.

23. It (be) quicker if you (use) a computer.

24. If you (not be) so busy, I (show) you how to play.

25. If we (have) some eggs, I (make) you a cake.

26. If you really (love) me, you (buy) me those diamonds.

27. If it (not be) so cold, I (tidy) up the garden.

28. Where (you go) if you (need) to buy a picture frame?

29. It (be) nice if you (spend) some time with the children.

30. I (not do) this if I (not have) to.

Ex. 3. Make questions.

1. Perhaps one day somebody will give you a lot of money. – What would you do if…?

2. Perhaps one day a millionaire will ask you to marry him/her. – What would you do if…?

3. Perhaps one day you will lose your passport in a foreign country. – What …?

4. Perhaps one day somebody will throw an egg at you. – What …?

5. Perhaps one day your car will be stolen. – What …?

6. Perhaps one day somebody will park his car on your foot.

Ex. 4. Choose the most sensible verb form.

1. If I (live/lived) to be 70...

2. If I (live/lived) to be 150 ...

3. If I (am/were) better looking ...

4. If I ( wake /woke) up early tomorrow ...

5. If Scotland (declares/declared) war on Switzerland ...

6. If we (have/had) the same government in five years' time ...

7. If everybody (gives/gave) ten per cent of their income to charity ...

8. If everybody (thinks/thought) like me ...

9. If there (is/was) nothing good on TV tonight...

10. If my English (is/was) better next year ...

11. If the government (bans/banned) cars from city centres next year...

12. If I (have/had) bad dreams tonight...

Ex. 5. Put the beginnings and ends together, using if... were.

Example: If he were a better dancer, her feet wouldn't hurt.

BEGINNINGS	ENDS
he / a better dancer	her feet wouldn't hurt.
I / a rabbit	I wouldn't be working.
I / forty years younger	I'd be quite pretty.
I / Moroccan	I'd give everybody ten weeks' holiday.
I / the manager	I'd go dancing all night.
it / not so cold	I'd go for a walk.
it / Sunday	I'd live in a hole.
my nose / shorter	I'd speak Arabic.
people / more sensible	life in the office would be easier.
she / better-tempered	there wouldn't be any wars.

Ex. 6. Put in the correct verb forms.

1. If I (know) you were coming, I (invite) some friends in.

2. He (go) to university if his father (not be) ill.

3. If you (say) you weren't hungry, I (not cook) such a big meal.

4. The team (win) if John (play) better.

5. If they (not cut) off the electricity, I (finish) my work.

6. If Bell (not invent) the telephone, somebody else (do) it.

7. If you (not spend) so much time making up, we (not be) late.

8. The burglars (not get) in if you (remember) to lock the door.

9. If he (not be) a film star, he (not become) President.

10. If she (have) more sense, she (sell) her car years ago.

Ex. 7. Write sentence chains with if to show how things could have been different.

Example: If he hadn't worked so hard, he wouldn't have passed his exams. If he hadn't passed his exams, he wouldn't have gone to university. ...

1. He worked hard  passed exams  went to university  studied languages  learnt Chinese  went to China  went climbing in Tibet  tried to climb Everest  disappeared in a snowstorm

2. He bought a bicycle  went for ride in country  fell off  woke up in hospital  met beautiful nurse  wrote bestselling novel about her  got rich  married beautiful nurse  lived happily ever after If he hadn't bought a bicycle, ...

3. Mary's mother went out that evening  Mary cooked for herself  got interested in cooking  opened very successful restaurant  had Prime Minister as customer  PM ordered mussels  mussels poisoned PM  PM died  Mary went to prison for life

Ex. 8 Which of these sentences can be rewritten with unless?

1 I'll be surprised if he doesn't have an accident soon.

2 It will be better if we don't tell her anything.

3 You can have the car tonight if Harriet doesn't need it.

4 I'll tell you if I can't come.

5 I'm going to dig the garden this afternoon if it doesn't rain.

6 She'd look nicer if she didn't wear so much make-up.

Ex. 9 A woman is packing to go on holiday in Austria. Make sentences:

SHE’S PACKING:

a German phrase book a thick sweater her address book

a pack of cards a swimsuit some books

a racket aspirins binoculars

walking boots

in case:

she decides to send postcards she has time to read

she meets people who play bridge she wants to go walking

the hotel has a heated pool the hotel staff don't speak English

the sun gives her a headache the weather is cold

there is a tennis court she wants to go bird-watching

Ex. 10 If or in case?

1. I'm taking my umbrella with me __ it rains.

2. I'll open the umbrella __ it rains.

3. People phone the fire brigade __ their houses catch fire.

4. People insure their houses __ they catch fire.

5. We have a burglar alarm __ somebody tries to break in.

6. The burglar alarm will go off __ somebody tries to break in.

7. I’ll let you know __ I need help.

8. I'll take the mobile phone __ I need to phone you.

Ex. 11 Write sentences beginning I wish… or If only…

1. He smokes. 2. I don’t speak Russian. 3. I haven’t got a car. 4. I’m not hard-working. 5. I’m bad at sport. 6. I don’t like dancing. 7. It rains all the time. 8. She works on Sundays. 9. I can’t eat eggs. 10. The radio doesn’t work.