Learn a variety of ways to speak about wishes and hypotheses and do the exercises to practise using them. Show
Level: intermediate WishesWe use the verb wish or the phrase if only to talk about things which we want but which are not possible:
We use wish and if only with past tense forms:
Wishes 1 MultipleChoice_MTY0NzM= Wishes 2GapFillTyping_MTY0NzQ= Hypotheses (things we imagine)ExpressionsWhen we are talking about hypotheses, we use expressions like: what if ... ?in casesuppose (that)supposing (that)imagine (if/that)We use these expressions:
Modal verbsWe use modals would and could for a hypothesis about the present or future:
We use would in the main clause and the past tense in a subordinate clause for a hypothesis about the present or future:
We use modals with have to talk about something that did not happen in the past:
We use would have in the main clause and the past perfect in a subordinate clause to talk about something that did not happen in the past: Hypotheses 1 MultipleChoice_MTY0NzU= Hypotheses 2GapFillTyping_MTY0NzY=
Book traversal links for Wishes and hypotheses
Do you need to improve your English grammar? Join thousands of learners from around the world who are improving their English grammar with our online courses. Find out more Submitted by Sajatadib on Wed, 07/09/2022 - 11:44 Let me wrap it up,please.When we don't know about the result of an event so that we could wish for something different, we use 'hope',whether it's in the past ,present or future.Like: I hope you did well on your test.(hope for a past event)
Submitted by Jonathan R on Wed, 07/09/2022 - 14:22 In reply to by Sajatadib Hi Sajatadib, Yes, that's right! Jonathan The LearnEnglish Team
Submitted by Sajatadib on Tue, 06/09/2022 - 17:18 Hello dear teachers,I've got a question concerning "hope".As it's been said in one of the comments,"hope" is used when the action is possible, but are these sentences correct: I hope you will win the game.( hope for the future)
Submitted by Kirk on Wed, 07/09/2022 - 06:38 In reply to by Sajatadib Hello Sajatadib, We generally use the present simple after 'hope' ('I hope you win the game') and so I would recommend that version, but it's OK to use 'will' ('I hope you will win the game'). Good work! All the best,
Submitted by Kristina Karp on Sat, 23/07/2022 - 09:01 Hello! Could you please explain the difference between usage wish and past perfect and would + present perfect (modals with have) for actions which didn't happen in the past?
Submitted by Jonathan R on Sat, 23/07/2022 - 10:48 In reply to by Kristina Karp Hi Kristina Karp, Traditionally, only the first sentence is correct. So, if you are taking an exam (for example), I would recommend using that structure. However, in modern English usage, it is becoming fairly common to use "would" as in your second sentence. Here's another example: "If you would have called me, I would have helped you." This is usually heard in speaking, especially in informal situations, but there are many people who consider it incorrect too. In any case, the meaning is the same as the first sentence. It's a bit complicated but I hope that helps! Jonathan The LearnEnglish Team
Submitted by NobelZ on Tue, 08/03/2022 - 17:34 Hello there,
Submitted by Kirk on Wed, 09/03/2022 - 06:34 In reply to by NobelZ Hello NobelZ, To express a wish that we think is possible but we don't know will happen or not, we actually use 'hope' (+ present simple) instead of 'wish': 'I hope I score a good mark'. We can also use this same structure to express good will or intentions to others, e.g. 'I hope you get a good mark on your exam'. It's also possible to use 'wish' to express good will, but the structure is different. We can say 'I wish you success on your exam' ('wish' + indirect object 'you' + direct object 'success on your exam'). More often, we use 'wish' to speak about a wish that we regard as not possible. That is the grammar explained on this page. If you wished you could get a good mark on an exam but see it as impossible, the most direct way of saying it is probably 'I wish I could get a good mark'. Does that make sense? All the best,
 Submitted by Prap on Sat, 11/12/2021 - 04:29 Good morning!
Submitted by Jonathan R on Sat, 11/12/2021 - 04:54 In reply to by Prap Hi Prap, Actually, the second sentence should be "I wish (that) you WOULD be quiet" (use "would" with past forms to say your wishes for the future. See the examples on the page above). Yes, it means the same things as your first sentence, but the first sentence is more formal in style than the second. :) Jonathan
Submitted by Ahmed Imam on Mon, 19/04/2021 - 14:55 Hello Could you please help me? In the following sentence, I think both choices are correct, would you explain more? - We're going to be late. I wish you (would - could) hurry. Thank you.
Submitted by Jonathan R on Tue, 20/04/2021 - 04:20 In reply to by Ahmed Imam Hi Ahmed Imam, Both are grammatically correct, but I would choose would here. Would refers to the person's willingness. The sentence is asking the person to try a bit harder to hurry. Could refers to the person's ability. I wish you could hurry means that, for some reason, the person is unable (not just unwilling) to hurry. So, I think the would option would be the more common situation. I hope that helps. Jonathan The LearnEnglish Team
Submitted by Ahmed Imam on Fri, 16/04/2021 - 21:55 Hello Team. A colleague said that both choices are correct, what do you think? If so, could you please explain? - I wish I (were - had been) rich, I wouldn't have borrowed money from others. Thank you.
Submitted by Jonathan R on Sat, 17/04/2021 - 04:18 In reply to by Ahmed Imam Hi Ahmed Imam, Yes, I agree with your colleague. The two options both make sense, but they have slightly different meanings:
I hope that helps. Jonathan The LearnEnglish Team
Submitted by Ahmed Imam on Mon, 05/04/2021 - 19:47 Hello Team. Could you please help me? Which one is correct or both? - I wish that Tom was studying Chemistry at the moment. - I wish that Tom were studying Chemistry at the moment. Thank you.
Submitted by Kirk on Wed, 07/04/2021 - 07:40 In reply to by Ahmed Imam Hello Ahmed Imam, Both are possible, but 'was' is much more common. All the best, Kirk The LearnEnglish Team
Submitted by Ahmed Imam on Sat, 03/04/2021 - 06:01 Hello Team. Is the following sentence correct using "would"? - They wish we would lend them some money. Some colleagues say that it is wrong and we must always use "could" with "I" and "we". What is correct? Thank you.
Submitted by Peter M. on Sun, 04/04/2021 - 07:53 In reply to by Ahmed Imam Helo Ahmed Imam, The sentence is correct. We don't use would when we are describing our own behaviour since we are in control of our own choices. However, here the wishing is done not by 'we' but by 'they', so it is fine.
Peter The LearnEnglish Team
Submitted by Ahmed Imam on Fri, 05/03/2021 - 18:53 Hello. Could you please tell me the difference between the following two sentences? 1- I wish the weather were fine today. 2- I wish the weather would be fine today. Thank you.
Submitted by Peter M. on Mon, 08/03/2021 - 07:18 In reply to by Ahmed Imam Hello Ahmed Imam,
Since we are talking about the future, the verb 'be' does not work here. You could use 'improve', however, or refer to a concrete change (I wish it would stop raining).
Note that 'wish sb would' is used when we are talking about behaviour. For example:
Obviously, behaviour is something people have. It requires choice and involves making a decision. Thus we generally use the form with people rather than things, though we can anthropomorphise things such as cars, computers, the weather etc.
Peter The LearnEnglish Team
Submitted by Ahmed Imam on Sat, 03/04/2021 - 05:57 In reply to by Peter M. Hello again Peter. You say, "Since we are talking about the future, the verb 'be' does not work here." How do we know that they are talking about the future? Thank you.
Submitted by Peter M. on Sat, 03/04/2021 - 07:49 In reply to by Ahmed Imam Hello again Ahmed Imam, To talk about the present (an imaginary, alternative present) you would use the first example [wish + past form], not [wish + would].
Peter The LearnEnglish Team
Submitted by Plokonyo on Sat, 27/02/2021 - 20:08 Hello. I have often seen senteces like this: In the context you provided, I would use X But in other situations, I would say X What is the meaning of "would" actually and how it fuctions?
Submitted by Ahmed Imam on Thu, 25/02/2021 - 09:27 Hello. Could you help me? If all the following sentences correct, what are the differences between them? 1- Steinbeck wished people had left him alone as he hated publicity. 2- Steinbeck wished people would leave him alone as he hated publicity. 3- Steinbeck wished people left him alone as he hated publicity.
Submitted by Jonathan R on Fri, 26/02/2021 - 14:06 In reply to by Ahmed Imam Hi Ahmed Imam, These are interesting examples! They are all grammatically correct. There are slight differences in meaning.
I hope that helps. Jonathan The LearnEnglish Team
Submitted by Ahmed Imam on Wed, 24/02/2021 - 09:42 Hello. Could you tell me which one is correct? Why? - If only he (could - would) speak Spanish later on. Thank you.
Submitted by Jonathan R on Thu, 25/02/2021 - 12:50 In reply to by Ahmed Imam Hi Ahmed Imam, Both options are grammatically correct, but the meaning is different. If only he could ... means he can't speak Spanish. If only he would ... means he is unwilling to speak Spanish (so, he may be able to speak it, but he doesn't want to). The phrase later on generally means a short time in the future, not a long time. So, If only he would ... makes the most sense. If only he could ... doesn't really make sense because being able or unable to speak Spanish isn't likely to change within the short time that later on indicates. I hope that helps. Jonathan The LearnEnglish Team
Submitted by Lavinia on Wed, 23/12/2020 - 18:28 Hey! I've just seen this phrase in a tv show and I was wondering if it's correct: "I just wish that there would have been a little bit something extra in it." I would say "I wish it were", since it's a present hypothetical situation but I'm not sure at all. Thank you!
Submitted by Jonathan R on Thu, 24/12/2020 - 04:57 In reply to by Lavinia Hi Lavinia, It's a good question! You're right that I wish there were ... is correct, and this is the structure that is normally taught in grammar books. But, the structure you noticed (I wish X would have ...) is very commonly used nowadays, especially in American English. Is it correct? That's a slightly tricky question :) From a traditional point of view, the answer is no. So, I wouldn't recommend using it in a written exam, for example. But in casual conversation with someone, I don't think it would be regarded as a mistake. Does that make sense? Jonathan The LearnEnglish Team
Submitted by Adamfirstttt on Sun, 25/10/2020 - 19:30 I can't believe you paid for your car in cash. What if someone ___ it? Imagine you ___ born a hundred years earlier. Do you think you would've been happy? Why couldn't I use 'would have' construction in this sentenses?
Submitted by Peter M. on Mon, 26/10/2020 - 07:01 In reply to by Adamfirstttt Hello Adamfirstttt, In conditional sentences, we use modal verbs like would (have) in the result clause, not the condition clause; in the condition clause we use a normal verb form in whatever tense or aspect is appropriate.
In your first example, the result clause is omitted and there is only the condition clause. If you add a result clause then you could use use 'would have':
In your second example, would have is used in the result clause:
Peter The LearnEnglish Team
Submitted by Adamfirstttt on Mon, 26/10/2020 - 12:07 In reply to by Peter M. Thanks a lot Peter Submitted by Yeats on Mon, 19/10/2020 - 23:53 Hi! This is the questions that is always in my mind but nobody has answered yet. Long but don't be afraid. There is a sentence. (1) If he can be more brave, he will confess to her. If this (1) is backshifted, can it be like this? (2) It was clear that (or His brother said) (1-1)If he could be more brave, he would confess to her. The point is this; if a indicative conditionals is backshifted and as a result when the main clause has the past auxiliary, then it has the exact type of 2nd conditionals, but the first sentence before backshifted was not 2nd conditionals. If then, should I discern both meaning(indicative or hypothetical-open or closed) in terms of the context? Or is there something more than I know? The follows are as far as I know about them. In my humble opinion, I can't understand how (1) can be backshifted to (1-1) without avoiding the ambiguity between indicative and 2nd conditionals. If then, the meaning or proposition of (1) and those of (1-1) is far different, I think. In addition to that, I think the "would" in (1-1) should not be used or expressions other than "would" can be used there, for example, using simple past with no past auxiliaries(confessed), or using adverb like probably(probably confessed) ========================================================== If you had more patience, would you please check this out, too? Sentences (1) and (2) below have the form of 2nd conditional, which is unreal at the time of utterance (In this text, the time is past, which is natural in grammar and usage in my intuition). However, some instructors (who explain the paragraph below) say that though (1) and (2) have the same sentence structure, (2) is interpreted as the possible past (real), which means 'Picasso' could have gotten warmer ~ or not and the author still doesn't know the two possibilities. But, I don't, cannot buy that. But they insist that the interpretation is possible, depending on its context. What do you think of this? Moreover, I don't know why (1) is not mentioned as having the same intention like (2). (1)If creators knew when they were on their way to fashioning a masterpiece, their work would progress only forward: they would halt their idea-generation efforts as they struck gold. But in fact, they backtrack, returning to versions that they had earlier discarded as inadequate. In Beethoven’s most celebrated work, the Fifth Symphony, he scrapped the conclusion of the first movement because it felt too short, only to come back to it later. Had Beethoven been able to distinguish an extraordinary from an ordinary work, he would have accepted his composition immediately as a hit. When Picasso was painting his famous Guernica in protest of fascism, he produced 79 different drawings. Many of the images in the painting were based on his early sketches, not the later variations. (2)If Picasso could judge his creations as he produced them, he would get consistently “warmer” and use the later drawings. But in reality, it was just as common that he got “colder.”
Submitted by Dean on Tue, 22/09/2020 - 11:52 Hi , What is difference in meaning if you say : I wish i could have that opprtunity or i wish i would have that opportunity ?
Submitted by Kirk on Tue, 22/09/2020 - 14:25 In reply to by Dean Hello Dean, The second sentence is not correct. This is because we don't generally use 'would' with the subject 'I' after 'wish', since in a sentence like this, 'would' expresses the idea of annoyance or unwillingness. In this sentence, the opportunity is not something that your willingness directly affects. In other words, you can say something like 'I wish he would visit me' (the subject of the verb 'would visit' is 'he', not 'I' -- the idea is that you wish he was willing (wanted) to visit you) but not 'I wish I would have that opportunity'. Instead, we say 'I wish I could have' or 'I wish I had'. I hope this helps you make sense of it. All the best, Kirk The LearnEnglish Team This is because 'would'
Submitted by Harry de ZHANG on Wed, 05/08/2020 - 04:36 Dear LearnEnglish Team, Regarding "After I/he/she/it, we can use were instead of was," could someone explain the rationale behind this linguistic phenomenon? It seems that this doesn't comply with the principle of subject-predicate consistency, although it's widely accepted. Further more, which of 'was' and 'were' a native speaker would prefer to use regardless the using environment (spoken and written)? Thank you.
Submitted by Peter M. on Wed, 05/08/2020 - 06:33 In reply to by Harry de ZHANG Hello Harry de ZHANG, I'm not sure there is a rationale for such aspects of the language. Languages are organic and develop through use and need without an imposed plan from above. This use of were is actually an archaic form. The subjunctive used to be the norm in if-clauses but now is used only with the verb be (present subjunctive- be, past subjunctive - were) You can read more about the subjunctive in English here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_subjunctive
The use of were in if-clauses is still very common, particularly with the first-person (If I were...). The use of was is frowned upon by some people, who see it as incorrect or at best poor style. This is not a view shared by the majority of modern grammarians, however.
Peter The LearnEnglish Team
Submitted by Harry de ZHANG on Thu, 06/08/2020 - 04:05 In reply to by Peter M. Hi Peter, Thank you so much for the reply! You are a big help! Submitted by Timothy555 on Mon, 11/05/2020 - 20:41 Hi, My query is on the subject of grammatical moods. When talking about wishes and hypotheses, are we using the subjunctive mood? I've read elsewhere that most grammarians consider English as only having three major/true grammatical moods (i.e. indicative, subjunctive and imperative). My larger question is this, whenever we compose any clause/sentence (to express a complete grammatical thought) in English, without even being conscious of it, are we already employing a particular grammatical mood (i.e. that our sentence, by definition, can automatically be classified as being either in indicative, subjunctive or imperative mood)? Thanks! Regards, Tim
Submitted by Peter M. on Wed, 13/05/2020 - 06:51 In reply to by Timothy555 Hi Tim, You're correct that there are three moods in English (indicative, subjunctive and imperative) and that every verb has one of these three moods. Note that it is not the sentence which has a mood, however, but the verb; mood is a characteristic of verbs.
The subjunctive can be used in some hypothetical forms but it's actually hard to tell in many cases as the past subjunctive and the past indicative forms of the verb are identical in all but the third person in English. It's easier with present forms, and with these we can see that the present subjunctive is already archaic and is in the process of disappearing. Both of these sentences are grammatically correct, but the first sounds very old-fashioned and stilted: Which one is defined as the consumers wished for level of service?Ideal service level is the highest level of service expectations defined as the ”wished-for' level of service, which customers hope to receive in an idealised way.
What are the 3 levels of service expectations?As we can see, the customers have different types of service expectations: desired service, adequate service, and predicted service. These different levels of service are reflected within the zone of tolerance.
What are the levels of customer expectations?4 Levels of Customer Expectations. Level 1: ACCURACY. The first of the 4 levels of customer expectations ask some clear and simple questions - Do they get what they asked for? ... . Level 2: AVAILABILITY. Second, is the product or service there when they want it? ... . Level 3: PARTNERSHIP. ... . Level 4: ADVICE.. Which is the highest level of service which customer hopes to receive?The desired service level is the service the customer hopes to receive. It is a blend of what the customer believes “can be” and “should be.” The adequate service level is that which the customer finds acceptable.
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_____ is the level of service that a customer wishes for or hopes to receive.
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