We say would rather do something than do something else:
Hed rather stay at home than go out.
When the subject of would rather is different from the subject of the following verb, we use another structure: Id rather somebody + Past Simple
In this structure we use the past, but the meaning is present not past.
Hed rather Luna stayed with him at home and cooked something tasty.
EXERCISE 3
Answer these weird questions using «d rather or «d rather not:
1 Would you rather eat a spider or a snail?
2 Would you rather be invisible or have the ability to fly?
3 Would you rather get lost in the jungle or on an island?
4 Would you rather get stuck on a deserted island alone or together with 4 annoying people?
5 Would you rather be able to teleport anywhere you want or be able to read minds?
6 Would you rather be good-looking but stupid or intelligent but ugly?
7 Would you rather move to a new city every week or never be able to leave the city where you were born?
8 Would you rather be talked about by everybody or ignored by everybody?
9 Would you rather be able to disappear or make other people disappear?
EXERCISE 4
Look at the situations and make sentences using «d rather + someone + Past Simple:
Kudjo is talking to Luna. Complete the sentences, as in the example:
Ill cook dinner if you really want me to, but .Id rather you cooked something delicious tonight.
1 Ill go to the market if you really want me to, but .
2 Ill tidy the room if you really want me to, but .
3 Ill empty the rubbish bin if you really want me to, but .
4 Ill hoover the flat if you really want me to, but .
5 Ill make coffee if you really want me to, but .
6 Ill wash the bowls if you really want me to, but .
7 Ill throw a party this weekend if you really want me to, but .
8 Ill find your favourite toy if you really want me to, but .
9 Ill fight with that nasty Dane if you really want me to, but .
EXERCISE 5
Put the verb in brackets in the correct form and guess the last word of the sentence:
1 Kudjo would rather Luna /not communicate/ with her neighbour so *****.
2 Its high time Luna /behave/ herself in *****.
3 Kudjo would rather /live/ in the country and /eat/ natural *****.
4 Luna would rather /not go/ to the country at all. She is afraid of pigs and *****.
5 Lunas parents would rather Luna /know/ nothing about their skeletons in the *****.
6 Its about time they /stop/ considering Luna to be little and *****.
7 Luna would rather /have/ long blonde hair than short brown *****.
8 Kudjo would rather /not have/ any hair in the hot *****.
9 Its time Kudjo and Luna /find/ a new hobby (for example, fishing) and /forget/ about *****.
EXERCISE 6
Change the sentences using the constructions in brackets:
For example,
Lunas parents are too fussy and it irritates Luna. («d rather) Luna would rather her parents were not so fussy.
1 Kudjo and Luna didnt understand what the bats were trying to tell them because they didnt know their language. (unreal of past)
2 Kudjo has been meaning to learn different languages of birds and mammals. («d rather)
3 Anyway, Kudjo and Luna guessed that the bats wanted to show them something important. (unreal of past)
4 The dogs agreed to follow the bats because they believed them. (unreal of past)
5 The bats would like Kudjo and Luna to go into the forest. («d rather)
6 Luna is a bit scared of going to the middle of nowhere especially after midnight. (unreal of present)
7 Moreover, Lunas parents are in a twit because its too late and Luna hasnt come home yet. (its high time)
8 On the other hand, the bats may know something that can help the dog find the truth. (real condition)
9 Kudjo prefers to follow the bats anywhere in spite of the night time. («d rather)
EXERCISE 7
Enlarge the sentences by using the constructions in brackets:
For example,
Kudjo wants Luna to go with him.
«d rather Kudjo would rather Luna went with him to see what the bats have decided to show them.
Its time Its time Luna stopped being such a coward.
If If Luna were not so cowardly, shed risk going with Kudjo.
1 Lunas parents are worried a lot.
«d rather
Its time
If
2 The bats are still fluttering their wings around Kudjo and Luna.
«d rather
Its time
If
3 The little pup is feeling much better now.
«d rather
Its time
If
4 Luna has agreed to follow the bats but only in the morning.
«d rather
Its time
If
5 The first problem is how to explain it to the bats.
«d rather
Its time
If
6 The next problem is that bats are nocturnal animals.
«d rather
Its time
If
7 Kudjo can see only one option now- hell follow the bats alone.
«d rather
Its time
If
8 Luna doesnt want to let him go without her.
«d rather
Its time
If
9 Finally, Kudjo has made up his mind to go there on his own.
«d rather
Its time
If
⠀
EXERCISE 8
Fill the gaps in the story with missing words:
Kudjo said ***** to Luna and gestured for the bats to start flying. They flew up immediately and moved very slowly and so low that nearly parted Kudjos hair. It looked uncanny. A cloud of ***** and a running ***** under the screen of night. Kudjo had been following the bats for ***** minutes when suddenly he felt somebody else running behind him. He stopped, turned around and sighed with relief. It was Luna. She got scared stiff when she was ***** alone and decided that she would be safer with Kudjo in the middle of nowhere than running alone to her *****.
Kudjo felt relieved of a great weight to see Luna. If she had run on her own to her parents house, hed have worried a lot.
The cloud of bats was circling around impatiently over their *****. Their screeching sounds were getting louder and louder and their ***** were fluttering faster and faster. The dogs realised that they were very ***** to the place the bats wanted them to see. The bats were gesturing for them «Its high time we continued». Kudjo and Luna yipped with agreement and ***** after the cloud of bats.
(to be continued)
EXERCISE 9
Find and correct 17 mistakes in the sentences:
1 Ten minutes later they ran to a weird place. If they wouldnt have seen it with their own eyes they wouldnt believed that such a place could be so close to their country house.
2 It looked as if spring didnt come there yet. They could still see snow here while everywhere around the trees and grass are turning green.
3 Suddenly the dogs felt that something changed. Luna and Kudjo turned around and didnt see any bats. They vanished into thin air.
4 Kudjo and Luna turned out to be in the middle of nowhere without any help and support. If they wouldnt have believed the bats, they would have already came home.
5 What would you done if you had been them? Would you had tried to find the way home or would you continued exploring the place?
6 Of course, Luna would rather Kudjo find the way back home, but Kudjo thinks its about time they find the answers to all their questions in this particular place.
7 They checked every stone, every bush and every tree, but hadnt found anything special.
8 They couldnt understand why the bats wanted them to come here.
9 If the bats can speak Doggish or Kudjo and Luna can speak Battish, everything would be much simpler.
EXERCISE 10
Choose the correct option:
1 Its high time they ***** back home.
a come
b came
c would come
2 Lunas parents would rather Luna and Kudjo ***** at home now.
a were
b are
c would be
3 They ***** more worried if they ***** where Luna is now.
a will be / know
b would be / would know
c would be / knew
4 Luna would rather ***** at home in her bed now, But not in this weird place.
a be
b would be
c is
5 If they ***** those bats, ***** them, they ***** this night in their warm and soft beds.
a wouldnt have believed / wouldnt have followed / had spent
b hadnt believed / hadnt followed / would have spent
c didnt believe / didnt follow / would spend
6 Luna started whimpering and Kudjo decided to go back home. But he didnt remember the way they ***** here.
a had come
b came
c have come
7 If he ***** the bats but had run on his own, he would definitely ***** the way here.
a wouldnt have followed / had remembered
b hadnt followed / remembered
c hadnt followed / have remembered
8 While Kudjo ***** to find the way back, Luna ***** and running around him.
a had been trying / had been still whining
b was trying / was still whining
c tried / was still whining
9 Suddenly she ***** whining and started digging out something very fast.
a stopped
b had stopped
c would stop
EXERCISE 11
Translate the story:
Куджо подбежал к ней и увидел, что она раскапывает какой-то небольшой холмик, покрытый зеленой травой и желтыми цветочками мать-и-мачехи. Это было так удивительно видеть кусочек весны посреди зимы. Странно, почему они раньше не заметили этот бугорок? Если было бы светлее, когда они прибежали на это место, они бы, наверное, его сразу увидели. Давно было бы им пора вернуться домой и они не стали терять время на раздумья и оба принялись раскапывать этот холмик. Если он отличается так сильно от всего этого места, значит, там что-то есть особенное. Что-то, что привело их сюда. Что-то, что летучие мыши хотели, чтобы они нашли.
Луна вдруг взвизгнула, потому что ее лапа наткнулась на что-то твердое и теплое. Она расчистила это место получше и собаки увидели квадратную кожаную коробку, которая, действительно, была очень теплой на ощупь. Как только Луна положила на нее свою лапу, коробка медленно открылась сама. Внутри ничего не было. Только какая-то квадратная выемка на самом дне. Куджо и Луна вздохнули разочарованно, закрыли коробку и побежали домой со всех лап. Самое странное было то, что сейчас они четко знали, куда бежать и где их дом. Им давно бы уже пора сидеть дома и получать нагоняй от родителей Луны.
(продолжение следует)
Unit 6
If only and Wish Sentences
We use
Subject + wish + somebody + Past Simple or Past Continuous or
If only + somebody + Past Simple or Past Continuous
to talk about things we would like to be different in the present/future (but which are impossible or unlikely)
Kudjo wishes he knew the truth. (= He doesnt know it and he regrets this)
If only Kudjo knew the truth!
After wish and if only, you can use were instead of was (I wish it were etc.). It sounds more formal.
I wish it was is also possible. So you can say:
Kudjo wishes Luna were (was) here now.
There is no big substantial difference between wish and if only, apart from the fact that if only gives more emphasis to what we are saying.
EXERCISE 1
What do they wish? Write sentences with I wish or If only:
For example,
Kudjo: I love horses but I cant ride. If only I could ride horses!
1 Luna: I love dancing but I dont have anybody to dance with.
2 Kudjo: I love spending time with Luna. I enjoy doing puzzles. But Luna isnt allowed to do jigsaw puzzles.
3 Lunas parents: We know that we must tell Luna all our family secrets but we dont know how to do it.
4 Luna: I have fallen in love with Chilly and am looking forward to his coming.
5 Kudjo: Id like to live in the country all year round but we have to live in the city almost all the time.
6 Kudjo: Im fed up with dry food. Why cant I eat raw meat instead?
7 Kudjo: I hate washing paws after every walk. If I lived in the country, I wouldnt do it.
8 Lunas parents: We should spend more time with Luna but we are so busy.
9 Luna: I hate learning but Kudjo wants me to read more and learn something useful.
10 Kudjo: I dont know how to open this box but it is very important.
We use
Subject + wish + somebody + Past Perfect
or
if only + somebody + Past Perfect
to talk about things that happened or didnt happen in the past and which we now regret.
Kudjo and Luna wish they had come home in time. (but they didnt)
EXERCISE 2
Rewrite the sentences beginning with I wish (or If only) + Past Perfect:
For example,
Kudjo regrets having a row with Lina. If only they hadnt had a row.
1 Luna regrets not telling her parents that they might be late.
2 Lunas parents regret taking Kudjo and Luna to the country.
3 They also believe that it was a bad idea to agree to help the pup.
4 They shouldnt have let Kudjo and Luna follow the bats.
5 They should have started looking for them a long ago.
6 They regret not telling Luna the family skeleton.
7 Kudjo regrets that Chilly hasnt come yet.
8 Kudjo regrets that he couldnt open the box.
9 Luna regrets that the parents have bought her an old-fashioned collar.
10 Kudjo regrets that he hasnt learnt the Battish language.
EXERCISE 3
Put the verb in brackets in the correct form of unreal wish of the past or unreal wish of the present:
1 Kudjo wishes he /can/ do his favourite jigsaw puzzles together with Luna.
2 Luna wishes her parents /not ground/ her for a month.
3 Lunas parents wish their distant relatives /not come/ with a visit next weekend.
4 Lunas parents wish they /can/ spend weekends without any guests.
5 Luna wishes she /choose/ a new collar herself yesterday.
6 Luna wishes her parents /not punish/ them for coming home so late.
7 Kudjo and Luna wish they /find/ out the secret of the new box.
8 Kudjo and Luna wish the bats /explain/ to them what to do with this box.
9 Kudjo wishes Chilly and he /can/ go to the boarding house again.
10 Kudjo wishes Luna /not join/ them in their trip to the boarding house.
We often use
Subject + wish + somebody + would or
if only + somebody + would
to complain, to talk about things we want to happen or stop happening, because they are annoying us.
Luna wishes her parents wouldnt be so strict.
You cant use this structure for a wish about yourself, i.e. NOT
I wish I would, I wish we would
EXERCISE 4
Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form and guess who is saying it: Kudjo (K), Luna (L), Lunas parents (P) or Chilly (C):
1 Oh no! You have turned over my bowl with food. I wish you /not be/ so clumsy! (K)
2 You are always asking us a lot of stupid questions! We wish you /not be/ such a chatter-box! (P)
3 You are so bossy! If only you /stop/ telling me what to do every time! (L)
4 They have had so many adventures without me. I wish I /be/ with them. (C)
5 Her paws are filthy again! We wish she /mind/ her step and /not get/ in every puddle! (P)
6 My parents dont allow me to do a lot of things! I wish they /not be/ so strict! (L)
7 If only it /stop/ raining! I am fed with staying at home. (L) or (K)
8 If only I /come/ sooner. Im looking forward to seeing Kudjo and Luna. (C)
9 I was so scared in the forest last night. I wished I /stay/ at home with my parents. (L)
10 I wish my dad /give/ me some pocket money! (L)
EXERCISE 5
Put the verb in brackets in the correct form and answer the questions with I wish and If only:
1 What foreign language do you wish you /can/ speak?
2 What is something very expensive that you wish you /have/?
3 What do you wish you /not do/ lately?
4 What activity do you wish you /have/ more time for?
5 What do you wish you /receive/ for your last birthday?
6 What bad habit do you wish you /can/ stop?
7 Who do you wish you /see/ next weekend?
8 Where do you wish you /live/?
9 What do you wish you /look/ like?
10 What do you wish you /can/ do perfectly without learning it?
EXERCISE 6
Write sentences with I wish or If only for the following situations:
For example,
Luna scratched the floor with the saw when she was carrying it to the box room. If only I had been more careful with that saw!
1 Lunas dad ran out of petrol on the way home and they had to push the car to the nearest petrol station.
2 Its pouring with rain and Kudjo cant stand puddles and mud.
3 Kudjo has had a fight with a bulldog and now his jaw is bleeding a bit.
4 Kudjo is eating his dry food and dreaming about some rare steaks.
5 Kudjo has run out of jigsaw puzzles and is looking forward to getting a new one.
6 Kudjo hates it when people wont clean up after their dogs.
7 Luna had a stupid fight with a poodle about the colour of her hair.