Lesson 13 Unit 3 Past unreal conditionals describe

Lesson 13, Unit 3

§ Past unreal conditionals describe past conditions and results that did not happen. The conditions and results are impossible, not true, or imaginary. § If he had gone to class, he would have seen her. (He didn’t go to class. He didn’t see her. ) § I wouldn’t have gotten lost if I had used the GPS. (I got lost. I didn’t use the GPS. )

§ The if clause gives the condition, and the main clause gives the result. § If you had seen the movie, you would have liked it. § Use if + past perfect in the if clause. Use would have + past participle in the main clause. § She would have come if you had invited her. § Would he have taken the job if they had offered it to him? § Other modals (could, might) can also be used in the main clause. § If I had read the book, we could have discussed it. § If he had stayed late, he might have enjoyed himself.

§ Remember: Do not use the simple past after if to refer to the past. Use the past perfect. § If he came last week, I would have known. (Incorrect) § If he had come last week, I would have known. (Correct) § Remember: Use a comma when the if clause comes first in a sentence. § I would have graduated if I had passed the test. § If I had passed the test, I would have graduated.

§ Use the past perfect after wish to express regrets about events or situations that happened (or did not happen) in the past. § I wish I had studied harder for last week’s test. I regret it now. § I wish I hadn’t eaten so much cake. Now I feel sick. § Be careful! Even though you are referring to a past time, do not use the simple past after wish to express regrets. § I wish I went home yesterday. (Incorrect) § I wish I had gone home yesterday.

§ In short answers, do not include the past participle of the verb after had. § Do you wish you had grown up in California? § Yes, I wish I had. § The past participle can also be omitted in follow-up statements. § Did you grow up in California? § No, but I wish I had.