Intermediate Grammar
Master English grammar one unit at a time. Clear notes, then 40+ interactive exercises with instant feedback — based on the topics in English Grammar in Use (Intermediate).
If I knew … and I wish I knew …“if + past (imaginary now) · wish + past” — 44 interactive questions
📖 Grammar Reference — If I knew … and I wish I knew …
Study the notes, then work through the six exercises.
A If I knew… — imagine something that isn’t true now
Use this when the situation is not real now — it’s only imagined. The verb after if is past, but the meaning is present:
💡 No would in the if-part: If I would know… → If I knew…
B The past after if means “imagine”, not past time
Don’t read knew · had · lived as real past actions. They simply paint an unreal present:
| If I had more time… imagine now | but I don’t have time today. |
| If you lived here… imagine now | but you don’t live here. |
C If I were… — and giving advice
In imaginary sentences we often use were for every subject (I / he / she / it). This is the natural way to give advice with If I were you…:
💡 Use were (not am) for advice — never If I am you.
D I wish I knew… — I’m sorry it isn’t true
Use wish + past to say you regret something about now — you’d like it to be different:
💡 I wish I know / I wish I can → I wish I knew · I wish I could.
Made with care for English learners · allenglish4u.com
Original practice material inspired by the English Grammar in Use syllabus (Cambridge University Press). Example sentences and exercises are written by All English 4U.