Did you know that past tenses in English can be used for more than just talking about the past? Here are five ways you can use past forms to refer to the present or the future.
1. When a Plan Isn’t Certain
Using the past continuous can make a plan sound less definite. For example:
This sounds less definite than “I am thinking of going to the party later.”
2. To Be Polite
Past tenses can make your language sound more polite and less direct. For example:
This is softer than “I am wondering if your report is ready.”
3. To Sound More Urgent
Using past tenses can add urgency to a statement. For example:
This implies that we should have already left, making it more urgent than “It’s time to leave.”
4. With ‘Wish’ and ‘If Only’
When expressing wishes or regrets, past tenses are used for hypothetical present or future meanings. For example:
5. With ‘Suppose’ and ‘What If’
Past tenses after “suppose” and “what if” make situations sound less likely. For example: