Wishes

We use past tense forms to talk about wishes:
  • We use past tense modals would and could to talk about wishes for the future:
I don’t like my work. I wish I could get a better job.
That’s a dreadful noise. I wish it would stop.
I always have to get home early. I wish my parents would let me stay out later.
  •  We use past tense forms to talk about wishes for the present:
I don’t like this place. I wish I lived in somewhere more interesting.
These seats are very uncomfortable. I wish we were travelling first class.
Everyone wishues they had more free time.
John wishes he wasn’t so busy.
I wish it wasn’t so cold.
  • We use the past perfect to talk about wishes for the past:
I wish I had worked harder when I was at school.
Mary wishes she had listened to what her mother told her.
I wish I hadn’t spent so much money last month.


Hypotheses (things that we imagine)

When we are talking about hypotheses:
  • We use present tense forms after phrases like what if, in case and suppose to talk about the future if we think it is likely to happen:
Those steps are dangerous. Suppose someone has an accident.
We should leave home early in case we are late.
  • We use a past tense form to talk about the future after suppose and what if to suggest something is not likely to happen:
It might be dangerous. Suppose they got lost.
What if he lost his job. What would happen then?
  • We use modals would, could for a hypothesis about the future:
We can’t all stay in a hotel. It would be very expensive.
Drive carefully. You could have an accident.
  • We use would in the main clause and the past in a subordinate clause to talk about the imagined future:
I would always help someone who really needed help.
I would always help someone if they really needed it.
  • We use modals with have to talk about something that did not happen in the past:
I did not see Mary, or I might have spoken to her.
It’s a pity Jack wasn’t at the party. He would have enjoyed this party.
Why didn’t you ask me. I could have told you the answer.

 

English Grammar

Comments

chris kim's picturechris kimreplied on  Iran 
hi there
which one is true which means burn?
catch on fire or catch fire
Peter M's picturePeter Mreplied on Poland  
Hello chris kim,
Generally we do not say 'catch on fire'. The options are rather 'catch fire' or 'be on fire'. However, I would need to see the context to be sure which of these is most appropriate.

Best wishes,
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
ashgray's pictureashgrayreplied on  India 
Dear Sir,
When I say, "I wish I could do that for you"
What does it mean:
I cannot do it for you but I wish I could.
OR
When time comes in the future, I hope I would be able to do that for you.
Kirk's pictureKirkreplied on Spain  
Hello ashgray,
It means the first thing you explain. 'wish' + a verb in a past tense can be used to refer to something unreal or hypothetical; in this case, it's something you would like to do but cannot.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
ashgray's pictureashgrayreplied on  India  
Thanks for the explanation, Kirk.
Just to clear away my doubts, if I say
"I wish it will stop" it refers to a realistic wish, whereas if I say
"I wish it would stop" it refers to an unrealistic wish
and both the above sentences refer to the present tense?
Kirk's pictureKirkreplied on  Spain 
Hello ashgray,
You're welcome. 'I wish' isn't followed by 'will' – as is explained above, it is followed by past forms (even when talking about the present) such as the past simple or past perfect. 'wish' in this sense expresses something seen as improbable or unreal.
By the way, there's an archived BBC page on 'wish' that you might find helpful as well.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
ashgray's pictureashgrayreplied on  India  
Thanks for correcting me and referring that page, Kirk.
I have just one more question. I was studying a page in quick grammar on Adjectives & Prepositions. With that I created these sentences. If you don't mind me aswking this here, could you please tell me whether they are correct:
- He was DELIGHTED WITH their service
- I wasn't AWARE OF it
- I'm not BORED WITH it
Peter M's picturePeter Mreplied on  Poland 
Hello ashgray,
Those sentences are all correct. Well done!

Best wishes,
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
roc1's pictureroc1replied on  Nigeria 
Please sir, am so confused about these sentences because of the "45%" there.
1) 45% of the students are busy.
2) 45% of the students is busy.
Could you please tell me which one is correct in the sentences above?
Thanks.
Peter M's picturePeter Mreplied on Poland 
Hello roc1,
The noun 'students' is plural and so a plural verb is needed. Sentence 1 is correct.

Best wishes,
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team

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