Have something done

If you 'have something done', you get somebody else to do something for you.

• I'm going to have my hair cut.
• She's having her house redecorated.
• I'm having a copy of the report sent to you

In informal English, we can replace 'have' by 'get'.

• We're getting a new telephone system installed.
• They will be getting the system repaired as quickly as they can.
• I got the bill sent direct to the company.

We can also use 'have/got something done' in situations where something bad has happened to people or their possessions. This is not something they wanted to happen.

• John had all his money stolen from his hotel bedroom.
• We had our car damaged by a falling tree.
• I got my nose broken playing rugby.

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Had better

We use “had better” plus the infinitive without “to” to give advice. Although “had” is the past form of “have”, we use “had better” to give advice about the present or future.

• You'd better tell her everything.
• I'd better get back to work.
• We'd better meet early.

The negative form is “had better not”.

• You'd better not say anything.
• I'd better not come.
• We'd better not miss the start of his presentation.

We use “had better” to give advice about specific situations, not general ones. If you want to talk about general situations, you must use “should”.

• You should brush your teeth before you go to bed.
• I shouldn't listen to negative people.
• He should dress more appropriately for the office.

When we give advice about specific situations, it is also possible to use “should”.

• You shouldn't say anything.
• I should get back to work.
• We should meet early.

However, when we use “had better” there is a suggestion that if the advice is not followed, that something bad will happen.

• You'd better do what I say or else you will get into trouble.
• I'd better get back to work or my boss will be angry with me.
• We'd better get to the airport by five or else we may miss the flight.

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Wish

Let's start off with the easy part. ' I wish to' can mean the same as 'I want to' but it is much, much more formal and much, much less common.

• I wish to make a complaint.
• I wish to see the manager.

You can also use 'wish' with a noun to 'offer good wishes'.

• I wish you all the best in your new job.
• We wish you a merry Christmas.

Notice that when you want to offer good wishes using a verb, you must use 'hope ' and not 'wish'.

• We wish you the best of luck.
• We hope you have the best of luck.
• I wish you a safe and pleasant journey.
• I hope you have a safe and pleasant journey.

However, the main use of 'wish' is to say that we would like things to be different from what they are, that we have regrets about the present situation.

• I wish I was rich.
• He wishes he lived in Paris.
• They wish they'd chosen a different leader.
• I wish I hadn't told him.

Notice that the verb tense which follows 'I wish' is 'more in the past' than the tense corresponding to its meaning.

• I'm overweight. I wish I was slimmer.
• I never win at tennis. I wish I won a game occasionally.
• It's raining hard. I wish it wasn't raining so hard.
• I went to the pub last night. I wish I hadn't had so many beers.
• I didn't go to the cinema. I wish I had gone.
• I've eaten too much. I wish I hadn't eaten so much.
• I'm going to see her later. I wish I wasn't.
• I was wearing jeans. I wish I hadn't been wearing jeans.
• I can't go to the party. I wish I could go.
• I couldn't do all the questions in the exam. I wish I could have done them all.

In the case of 'will' , where 'will' means 'show willingness' we use 'would'.

• He won't help me. I wish he would help me.
• You're making too much noise. I wish you would be quiet.
• You keep interrupting me. I wish you wouldn't do that.

Where 'will' means a future event, we cannot use 'wish' and must use 'hope'.

• There's a strike tomorrow. I hope some buses will still be running.
• I hope everything will be fine in your new job.

In more formal English, we use the subjunctive form 'were' and not 'was' after 'wish'.

• I wish I were taller.
• I wish it were Saturday today.
• I wish the options were a little clearer.

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Third conditional

We can use the Third Conditional to talk about 'impossible' conditions, impossible because they are in the past and we cannot change what has happened.

• If I had worked harder at school, I would have got better grades.
• If I had had time, I would have gone to see him. But I didn't have time.
• If we had bought that house, we would have had to rebuild the kitchen.
• If we had caught the earlier train, we would have got there on time but we were late.

Notice that the main clause can contain 'would' 'could' or 'might.

• If I had seen him at the meeting, I would have asked him. (But he wasn't there so I didn't.)
• If I had seen him at the meeting, I could have asked him. ( But he wasn't there so it wasn't possible.)
• If I had seen him at the meeting, I might have asked him. (But I'm not sure. Perhaps if the opportunity had arisen.)
• If I had paid more attention in class, I would have understood the lesson.

Also notice that sometimes the 'if clause' is implied rather than spoken.

• I'd have done it. ("if you had asked me but you didn't.")
• I wouldn't have said that. ("if I'd been there.")
• He wouldn't have let him get away with that. ("if he had tried that with me.")

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Second conditional

We can use the Second Conditional to talk about 'impossible' situations.

• If I had one million dollars, I'd give a lot to charity.
• If there were no more hungry people in this world, it would be a much better place.
• If we were in New York today, we would be able to go to the free Elton John concert in Central Park.

Notice that after I / he/ she /it we often use the subjunctive form 'were' and not 'was'. (Some people think that 'were' is the only 'correct' form but other people think 'was' is equally 'correct' .)

• If I were in Tokyo, I'd have sushi every day.
• If she were really happy in her job, she'd be working much harder.
• If IBM were to enter our market, we would have big problems.

Notice the form 'If I were you' which is often used to give advice.

• If I were you, I'd change my job.
• If I were you, I'd sign up for Pearson's fantastic English lessons.

We can also use the Second Conditional to talk about 'unlikely' situations.

• If I won the lottery, I'd buy my parents a big house.
• If I went to the moon, I'd bring back some moon rock.
• If you met him, you'd really like him.

Notice that the choice between the first and the second conditional is often a question of the speaker's attitude rather than of facts. For example, consider two people Peter Pessimist and Otto Optimist.

• Otto – If I win the lottery, I'll buy a big house.
• Peter – If I won the lottery, I'd buy a big house.
• Otto – If I get promoted, I'll throw a big party.
• Peter – If I got promoted, I'd throw a big party.
• Otto – If my team win the Cup, I'll buy champagne for everybody.
• Peter – If my team won the Cup, I'd buy champagne for everybody.

Notice that the 'If clause' can contain the past simple or the past continuous.

• If I was still living in Brighton, I would commute by train.
• If they were thinking of coming, they would let us know.
• If she were coming, she would be here by now.

Notice that the main clause can contain 'would' 'could' or 'might.

• If I met him again, I wouldn't recognize him.
• If we met up for lunch one day, I could take you to that new restaurant.
• If I spoke to him directly, we might be able to reach an agreement.

Also notice that sometimes the 'if clause' is implied rather than spoken.

• What would I do without you? ("if you stopped working here")
• Where would I get one at this time of night? ("if I went looking for one")
• He wouldn't agree. ("if we asked him")

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