Tip: See my list of the Most Common Mistakes in English. It will teach you how to avoid mistakes with commas, prepositions, irregular verbs, and much more.
English conditional is one of the most common sources of mistakes for non-native speakers. The most common pattern for conditional sentences is “if someone did something, someone would do something”, e.g. “if he worked, he would have enough money” which implies that he doesn't work, so he doesn't have enough money.
The form used after “if” in the example above is the so called subjunctive mood. The important point to remember is that it's the same for every verb as the simple past tense of that verb (e.g. “if I went”, “if you did”, “if he saw”), with the exception of “to be”, for which it is always “were” (e.g. “if I were”, “if you were”, “if he were”).
The subjunctive mood expresses something that (theoretically) could be happening right now, but which (in reality) isn't happening. And this is exactly what you want to express when you express a wish, for example:
correct I wish you were here.
unnatural I wish you would be here.
Since it is the subjunctive, not the past tense, the preferred form for I/he/she/it is also “were”, not was. Note, however, that it is quite common to use “was” in informal speech by native speakers:
correct I wish she were here.
correct I wish she was here. (informal)
unnatural I wish she would be here.
Nevertheless, expressions of the form “I wish he would do something” are also grammatically correct but mean something else! “Would” is the past tense and past subjunctive of the verb “will”. This verb is most commonly used as an auxiliary verb to build the future tense, and “I wish he would do” can refer to a wish about the future. Quite commonly, however, it carries another meaning.
“Will” also means “be willing to”, “be so good/kind as to”. You may not have realized it, but you might have used this meaning already in a couple of phrases. For example, when you say “Will you excuse me?”, you aren't asking whether the other person is going to excuse you in the future; you are asking whether they are willing to excuse you now (that is, whether they are so kind as to excuse you now).
In this sense, you can say “I wish someone would do something”, which means “I wish someone were willing to do something”. For example,
I wish you wouldn't smoke.
expresses that you wish the other person were so kind as not to smoke. You find the fact that they smoke unkind or irritating, whereas when you say
I wish you didn't smoke.
you merely express that your conversational partner does smoke and that you wish otherwise, without the emotional subtext.
Star reporter Michael Lev presents key storylines heading into Saturday's game between the UA and USC. The game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and will be broadcast on Pac-12 Arizona and 1290-AM:
Arizona DT Trevon Mason wishes late grandfather could see him now
Arizona defensive tackle Trevon Mason’s middle name is Darnell. It was the first name of his late grandfather, whom Trevon thinks about all the time while pursuing his football dreams. He imagines his grandpa would be proud of him.
“He got to see me in Little League, but he didn’t get to see none of this,” Mason said. “I wish he was here to this day.”
Mason has emerged as a prominent defender for the Wildcats after transferring this summer from Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas, about 75 miles southeast of his hometown of Arlington. He had a career-high seven tackles in last week’s game against Washington, bumping his season total to 21. He also has 2.5 tackles for losses.
Two days after the UW game, Mason tweeted the following about his grandfather: “Proud to carry the Mason name. Wish my granddaddy was still here to witness all that I have accomplished. I will continue to make him and my family proud. I know my granddaddy is watching over us.”
Darnell Mason died when Trevon was about 10 years old. Darnell had a massive heart attack while waiting at a stoplight, Trevon said.
Trevon appreciated many things about his grandfather. One was exposing Trevon to musical artists such as The Temptations and Sam Cooke. Another was the discipline Darnell instilled in him. Trevon loved his grandfather. He also was a little scared of him.
“I would get in trouble in school,” Mason said. “My mom used to be like, ‘Your granddaddy’s coming.’ I used to start throwing up instantly.”
If only Darnell could see what Trevon has become. After arriving just before the start of training camp – his transfer was delayed because of academics – Mason struggled at first with conditioning. He has developed into a sturdy presence in the middle of Arizona’s defense, which needed big bodies after the departures of 300-pounders PJ Johnson and Dereck Boles.
“I’m really trying to ball out,” Mason said. “I’m trying to tell the coaches I’m really here to make a difference – that they didn’t just pick me up to be on the roster.”
After a pair of setbacks, OL Bryson Cain is glad he’s able to help team again
Unfortunately for Bryson Cain, he had been there before.
Arizona’s offensive lineman missed the 2022 season because of a broken ankle. So when he found out he had torn his ACL late last season, he had that same sinking feeling.
“When the knee came along,” Cain said, “I was like, ‘Well, here we go again.’”
But the two injuries came with a bright side.
“It really helped me learn adversity and how to face it,” Cain said.
He attacked his latest rehab with vigor and was cleared for full contact at the start of training camp — about nine months after he hurt his left knee against Oregon on Oct. 27.
Cain worked his way into a platoon at left guard, and he could make his first start of the season when Arizona visits USC on Saturday.
“He made a really quick recovery,” UA tight end Bryce Wolma said. “I know he put a lot of time in in the offseason.”
The challenge in recovering from an injury is as much mental as it is physical. Cain’s previous experience helped speed up the timetable on that front when injury No. 2 struck.
“It hits you hard for the first little period,” Cain said.
“My ankle, I was in a pretty bad mood for first the week or so after it. My knee … I just threw a huge fit when it happened, and then I was fine. I got it all out of my system.”
By that point, Cain had established himself as a starter. He opened the first nine games of the ’18 season at right guard.
Cain was playing for Joe Gilbert then, technically Arizona’s third offensive line coach in two seasons.
Cain came to Tucson from Great Oak High School in Temecula, California, to play for Jim Michalczik. After Michalczik left the UA late in the ’17 season to join the Oregon State staff, Arizona hired Garin Justice. Justice’s tenure lasted about a month because the man who hired him, Rich Rodriguez, got fired.
Cain didn’t have a chance to make the kind of first impression he wanted on Kyle DeVan, the Wildcats’ newest offensive line coach. Cain was limited to individual drills during spring practice.
“I was worried originally,” Cain said. “But after getting to know Coach DeVan, he’s such a standup guy. I really didn’t worry about it after the fact.
“We talked about it. He said, ‘The biggest thing over everything is, you’re healthy. Don’t worry about making impressions with me.’ He watched film. He understands how I play.”
Cain, a redshirt junior, expected to be his usual physical, mobile self upon returning. But there were moments of trepidation.
“It takes some time, definitely,” Cain said. “In the first little part of camp, I was kind of uncomfortable. It’s really scary after you get two screws in your knee.
“Over time, you get over it. I don’t even notice it anymore.”
With opponents blitzing more often, Arizona suddenly is feeling the pressure
It started against Texas Tech, only ending with a massive counterstrike. It continued against UCLA, but for a different reason. It reached new levels against Washington.
Defenses have been blitzing Arizona more lately than any time since Khalil Tate became the Wildcats’ quarterback. The pressure packages didn’t necessarily have the desired effect until last week’s game against the Huskies, who bewildered Tate from the get-go.
“They were really the first team that’s brought a lot of pressure against us,” UA tailback J.J. Taylor said. “You get blitzes on third down. They’re blitzing on first down, second down.”
Washington regularly sent inside linebackers into the backfield. Sometimes the Huskies would spring safety Myles Bryant on delayed blitzes. They sacked Tate four times and forced him to throw the ball away on several other occasions.
In the past, opponents were hesitant to blitz Tate for fear that he’d exploit an open lane and run for a huge gain. That happened against the Red Raiders. Arizona alleviated the pressure by calling and executing a quarterback counter, which resulted in Tate rushing 84 yards for a touchdown.
Tate tweaked a hamstring late in that game and missed the following contest against UCLA. Freshman Grant Gunnell took his place, making his first career start. Naturally, the Bruins came after him.
“With an injury or with a young guy,” UA coach Kevin Sumlin said, “you’re gonna blitz them.”
Tate returned the following week against Colorado and mostly relied on his arm in a 35-30 win over the Buffaloes. Washington seemed to have little concern about letting Tate get loose. The Huskies also executed their plan to near-perfection, maintaining gap discipline and rarely giving Tate an opening.
“They just kept coming when we dropped back to throw it,” Sumlin said. “They played some zero (coverage) a couple times and just dared us. We couldn’t get it off. Give them credit.”
Tate finished 13 of 25 for 184 yards with one touchdown and one interception, rushed for a career low minus-28 yards and lost a fumble. Given how successful Washington’s plan was, UA players expect others to copy it.
“Anytime a team has success like that,” tight end Bryce Wolma said, “you look for (others) to implement the same sort of things in their game plan. It’s just all about communication up front between tight ends, backs and the O-line.”
What else can the Wildcats do to beat the blitz?
“Watch film,” Taylor said. “Pay more attention in film. Look at tendencies.”
Added receiver Cedric Peterson: “Just having a little bit more sense of urgency. We have to make sure that we’re on time with everything we’re doing … that we’re all clicking on everything.”
Is another close game on tap between Trojans, Wildcats?
Last year’s USC-Arizona game marked a return to form in a way: It was decided by single digits.
The previous two meetings ended a streak of nine straight featuring a margin of one score or less.
The Trojans won all but two of those. Every other time, the Wildcats managed to keep the score close against a rival that has dominated the all-time series (34-8).
Head-to-head
Below are the results of the past 12 meetings. The games in odd-numbered years took place in Los Angeles, in even-numbered years in Tucson:
: USC 20, Arizona 13
: USC 17, Arizona 10
: Arizona 21, USC 17
: USC 24, Arizona 21
: USC 48, Arizona 41
: Arizona 39, USC 36
: USC 38, Arizona 31
: USC 28, Arizona 26
: USC 38, Arizona 30
: USC 48, Arizona 14
: USC 49, Arizona 35
: USC 24, Arizona 20
I wish she was/were
Q:
I have been confused about the use of was/were. I see it so often (in conversational speech and in print) where a singular subject is used with the verb "were."
For example,
I wish she were more direct with her feedback.
I've heard that, and to me it should be:
I wish she was more direct with her feedback.
Am I right, or do I need a 7th grade grammar course refresher?
Anne Shipman Claussen
"I wish she were more direct with her feedback" is correct. This is an example of the rarely used subjunctive in English.
"Were" is the form of "be" to use after "wish" - in all persons - when you are referring to a present situation that is a fantasy, that is untrue, that describes the situation the way you want it to be, not the way that it really is. In your sentence, the reality is that she is not direct with her feedback, but you are wishing for the opposite situation, the fantasy.
"I wish she was more direct" does occur, of course, but it is considered less formal, and perhaps by prescriptive grammarians, "less correct."
(To see a related message, on "Wish clauses,"
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Wishes and hypotheses
Level: intermediate
Wishes
We use the verb wish or the phrase if only to talk about things which we want but which are not possible:
I wish I could see you next week.
If only we could stop for a drink.
I wish we had a bigger house.
They are always busy. If only they had more time.
John was very lazy at school. Now he wishes he had worked harder.
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. If only my parents would let me stay out later.
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.
I wish I was taller.
John wishes he wasn't so busy.
I'm freezing. If only it wasn't so cold.
• After I/he/she/it, we can use were instead of was:
I wish I was/were taller.
John wishes he wasn't/weren't so busy.
I'm freezing. If only it wasn't/weren't so cold.
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.
Expressions
When we are talking about hypotheses, we use expressions like:
what if ... ?
in case
suppose (that)
supposing (that)
imagine (if/that)
We use these expressions:
We should phone them in case they are lost.
Those steps are dangerous. Suppose someone has an accident.
Imagine you won the lottery. What would you do with the money?
What if he lost his job? What would happen then?
Suppose you hadn't passed your exams. What would you have done?
What if he had lost his job? What would his wife have said?
Modal verbs
We can't all stay in a hotel. It would be very expensive.
Drive carefully or you could have an accident.
We use would in the main clause and the past tense in a subordinate clause for a hypothesis about the present or 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 didn't see Mary, or I might have spoken to her.
It's a pity Jack wasn't at the party. He would have enjoyed it.
Why didn't you ask me? I could have told you the answer.
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:
I would have helped anyone who had asked me.
I would have helped you if you had asked me.
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.
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
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.
Hi Ahmed Imam,
Yes, I agree with your colleague. The two options both make sense, but they have slightly different meanings:
• I wish I had been rich, ... - this third conditional structure shows an imagined past situation. In the sentence, 'being rich' refers specifically to the time when I borrowed the money (i.e., 'If I had been rich at that time, ...'). It sounds like the borrowing did not happen recently.
• I wish I were rich, ... - this second conditional structure shows an imagined (i.e. unreal) present situation, i.e. being rich now. We might use this if the borrowing happened recently.
I hope that helps.
Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team
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.
Hello Ahmed Imam,
Both are possible, but 'was' is much more common.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
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.
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
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.
Hello Ahmed Imam,
• wish sth + past [wish the weather were] describes the situation at the moment; it imagines a different present
• wish sth + would [wish the weather would] describes the future; it imagines a hoped-for future
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:
I wish he would stop talking!
[he talks too much; I hope this changes in the future]
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
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