Would I wish…would

Языковая структура I wish…would часто используется в английском языке, чтобы выразить недовольство или раздражение относительно того, что происходит, и, вероятно, не может быть исправлено. Мы используем глагол wish плюс would, чтобы акцентировать внимание на том, что мы хотим, чтобы кто-то сделал что-то.

A. We use would (‘d) when we imagine a situation or action

• It would be nice to have a holiday but we can’t afford it.
• I’m not going to bed yet. I’m not tired and I wouldn’t sleep.

We use would have (done) when we imagine situations or actions in the past:

• They helped me a lot. I don’t know what I would have done without their help.
• I didn’t go to bed. I wasn’t tired, so I wouldn’t have slept.

B. Compare will (‘ll) and would (‘d):

• I’ll stay a bit longer. I’ve got plenty of time.
• I’d stay a bit longer but I really have to go now. (so I can’t stay longer)

Sometimes would/wouldn’t is the past of will/won’t

Compare:

present		past
TOM: I’ll phone you on Sunday.	>>	Tom said he’d phone me on Sunday.
ANN: I promise I won’t be late.	>>	Ann promised that she wouldn’t be late.
LIZ: Damn! The car won’t start.	>>	Liz was angry because the car wouldn’t start.

C.  I wish… would…

Study this example situation:

It is raining. Jill wants to go out, but not in the rain.

• She says: I wish it would stop raining.

This means that Jill is complaining about the rain and wants it to stop.

We use I wish… would… when we want something to happen or when we want somebody to do something. The ‘ speaker is not happy with the present situation.

• The phone has been ringing for five minutes. I wish somebody would answer it.
• I wish you would do something instead of just sitting and doing nothing.

You can use I wish…wouldn’t… to complain about things people do repeatedly:

• I wish you wouldn’t keep interrupting me.

We use I wish… would… for actions and changes, not situations. Compare:

I wish Sarah would come. (= I want her to come)  but I wish Sarah were (or was) here now.
(not I’ll wish Sarah would be…’)

I wish somebody would buy me a car. but I wish I had a car.
(not‘I wish I would have…’)

В.  You can also use would when you talk about things that happened regularly in the past:

• When we were children, we lived by the sea. In summer, if the weather was fine, we would all get up early and go for a swim. (= we did this regularly)
• Whenever Arthur was angry, he would walk out of the room.

With this meaning, would is similar to used to:

• Whenever Arthur was angry, he used to walk out of the room.

 

EXERCISES

1 Complete the sentences using would + one of the following verbs in the correct form:

be   do   enjoy   enjoy   phone   stop

1. They helped me a lot. I don’t know what  I .. would have done… without their help.
2. You should go and see the film. You …………………………………………………………………. it.
3. It’s a pity you couldn’t come to the party last night. You ……………………………………………………….. it.
4. I…………………………………………………………………. you last night but I didn’t have your number.
5. Why don’t you go and see Clare? She ……………………………………………………. very pleased to see you.
6. I was in a hurry when I saw you. Otherwise I…………………………………………………………………. to talk.

2 Write sentences using «promised»

1. I wonder why she’s late. …She promised she wouldn’t be late…
2. I wonder why Tom hasn’t written to me. He promised……………………………………………………………….
3. I’m surprised they didn’t wait for us. They……………………………………………………………………………………
4. Why did you tell Jill what I said? You …………………………………………………………………………………………..

3 What do you say in these situations? Write sentences with I wish… would… .

1. It’s raining. You want to go out, but not in the rain. You say: ….I wish it would stop raining…..
2. You’re waiting for John. He’s late and you’re getting impatient. You say (to yourself): I wish …………… ……………………………………………………………………………
3. You can hear a baby crying and you’re trying to study. You say:…………………………………………………..
4. You’re looking for a job — so far without success. Nobody will give you a job.You say: I wish somebody ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5. Brian has been wearing the same clothes for years. You think he needs some new clothes. You say (to Brian):………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

For the following situations, write sentences with I wish…wouldn’t… .

1. Your friend drives very fast. You don’t like this. You say (to your friend): I wish you …………………………
2. Jack always leaves the door open. This annoys you. You say (to Jack):…………………………………………
3. A lot of people drop litter in the street. You don’t like this. You say: I wish people ……………………………

4 Are these sentences right or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong.

1. I wish Sarah would be here now.           …WRONG: I wish Sarah were here now …
2. I wish you would listen to me.                      ……………………………………………………………………………
3. I wish I would have more money.                ……………………………………………………………………………
4. I wish it wouldn’t be so cold today.              …………………………………………………………………………….
5. I wish the weather would change.                …………………………………………………………………………….
6. I wish you wouldn’t complain all the time.    …………………………………………………………………………….
7. I wish everything wouldn’t be so expensive. ……………………………………………………………………………

5 These sentences are about things that often happened’-in the past. Complete the sentences using would + one of these verbs:

forget   shake   share   walk

1. Whenever Arthur was angry, he … would walk… out of the room.
2. I used to live next to a railway line. Whenever a train went past, the house ………………………………
3. You could never rely on George. It didn’t matter how many times you reminded him to do something, he ………………………. always ………………………..
4. Brenda was always very generous. She didn’t have much but-she ………………………………………what she had with everyone else.

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