CAE

Unit 3Hasier GoitiaÁlvaro Cáceres

1º C

Contents

If only

Wishes

It’s time

Would rather/sooner

If only, if only,

—the woodpecker sighs—,

the bark on the trees

were as soft as the skies.

“

”

Spicing up conditionals

If only

Present: past + would

“If I had time, I’d take up piano lessons.”

(I don’t have time, so I won’t take up piano lessons)

“If I were rich, I would buy a new car.”

(I am not rich, so I won’t buy a new car)

Hypothetical Situations

If Only

Past: past perfect + would have

“Had I taken an umbrella, I wouldn’t have gotten wet.”

(I didn’t take an umbrella, so I got wet)

“If I had studied, I would have passed the exam.”

(I didn’t study, so I didn’t pass the exam)

Hypothetical Situations

If Only

If only can be used in both present and past hypothetical situations.

“If only I had taken an umbrella, I wouldn’t have gotten wet.”

“If only I were rich, I would buy a new car.”

Conditionals with if only

If Only

If only shows regret.

“If only I hadn’t been so harsh, we would still be friends.”

If only is used to emphasize the sentence.

“If only I hadn’t dunk so much, this wouldn’t have happended!”

“If only she’d look at me, that would make my day!”

Uses of if only

If Only

The second clause is often left out.

“If only I had known before!”

The verb to be usually takes the form of were.

“If only I were a rich man!”

Characteristics of if only

If Only

The Wishing-Well

Wishes

Someday I’ll wish upon a star

and wake up where

the clouds are far

behind me.

“

”

The verb appears after wish. “I wish I had an iPhone.”

(I don’t have an iPhone)

“I wish I was going on holiday next week.”

(I am not going on holiday)

Present and Future Time

Wishes

Would is used when the speaker wants somebody or something else to change. “I wish it would stop raining.”

“I wish he wouldn’t give us so much homework.”

Would

Wishes

Wish + past perfect “I wish I hadn’t eaten the whole pizza.”

(I did eat the whole pizza)

“I wish I had studied more for the exam.”

(I didn’t study)

Past Time

Wishes

Personal Preference

I’d rather/sooner/prefer

I’d rather ask for forgiveness

than ask for permission.“

”

I’d rather is followed by past verb forms, like wishes in the present. “I’d rather you didn’t smoke in here”.

Comparisons

“I’d rather be happy than rich.”

(Present: I’d rather + infinitive)

“I’d rather have been born in Grece than in Rome.”

(Past: I’d rather + present prefect continuous)

Sentence Structure

I’d rather/sooner/prefer

I’d prefer + it + past verb form. “I’d prefer it if you didn’t smoke in here.”

(I’d rather you didn’t smoke in here)

I’d prefer + person + infinitive “I’d prefer you to sit on your chair.”

(Rather than sit on the floor)

I’d prefer

Wishes

I’d rather/I’d sooner. “I’d rather/sooner have a horse than a dog”.

“I’d rather/sooner have tea than coffee”.

I’d prefer

“I’d prefer (having) a horse to a dog”.

“I’d prefer (having) tea to coffee.”

Comparisons

I’d rather/sooner/prefer

A Very Important Date

It’s time

I’m late! I’m late for a very important date!

No time to say “Hello”, “Goodby”,

I’m late, I’m late, I’m late, I’m late!

“”

It’s time is followed by past simple or continuous. “It’s time we fixed the radio”.

“It’s time you went to bed”.

(Past simple)

“It’s time something was done about the problem.”

(Past continuous)

Sentence Structure

It’s time

It’s time refers to an ureal time. “It’s time something was done about this!”.

(Nothing has been done yet)

“It’s time he got his hair cut.”

(He hasn’t gotten his hair cut yet.)

Uses

It’s time

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CAE - Unit 3

ExercisesHasier GoitiaÁlvaro Cáceres

1º C

I’d prefer it if he stopped smoking. I wish ___________________________.

If only __________________________.

It’s time _______________________.

I wish I could draw.

If only ________________.

It’s time _______________________.

Complete the sentences so that they have a similar meaning to the one given.

Exercises

he would stop smoking

he would stop smoking

he stopped smoking

I could draw

I learnt how to draw

It’s time something was done about this. I wish ____________________________ about this.

If only ________________________ about this.

I’d prefer it if ______________________ about this.

I wish I hadn’t painted my room blue.

If only ________________________________.

I’d rather _________________________ a different color.

Complete the sentences so that they have a similar meaning to the one given.

Exercises

something would be done

something were done

something was done

I hadn’t painted my room blue

have painted my room

I’m not very tall. I wish ____________.

If only _____________.

I can’t afford a new laptop.

If only _____________________, _________________________.

I wish _____________________ so that ________________________.

Starting from the sentence given, create a new sentence with if only and I wish.

Exercises

I was tall

I were tall

I had enough money I would buy a new laptop

I had enough money I could buy a new laptop

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