Learn ENNglish
Wishes and Hypotheses
Wishes
We use past tense forms to talk about wishes:
- Future 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.”
- Present Wishes: We use past tense forms to talk about wishes for the present:
“I don’t like this place. I wish I lived somewhere more interesting.”
“These seats are very uncomfortable. I wish we were travelling first class.”
“Everyone wishes they had more free time.”
“John wishes he wasn’t so busy.”
“I wish it wasn’t so cold.”
- Past Wishes: 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:
- Future Hypotheses (likely to happen): 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.”
- Future Hypotheses (unlikely to happen): 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?”
- Imagined Future Hypotheses: We use 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.”
- Imagined Future (with modals): 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.”
- Past Hypotheses: 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.”
