If I knew … / I wish I knew …
Imagined Present Situations & Wishes — Complete Guide
If I knew … / I wish I knew …
Situations Présentes Imaginées & Souhaits — Guide Complet
Master if + past simple for imagined present situations, I wish + past simple for regrets, were vs was after if/wish, and could in hypothetical contexts
Maîtrisez if + prétérit pour les situations présentes imaginées, I wish + prétérit pour les regrets, were vs was après if/wish, et could dans les contextes hypothétiques
If I knew … / I wish I knew … — when we want to talk about an imagined present situation (something that is not real now), we use if + past simple, even though the meaning is present. We use I wish + past simple to express regret about the present. This unit covers both structures clearly with full examples and contrasts.
If I knew … / I wish I knew … — quand on veut parler d'une situation présente imaginée (quelque chose qui n'est pas réel maintenant), on utilise if + prétérit, même si le sens est présent. On utilise I wish + prétérit pour exprimer un regret sur le présent. Cette unité couvre les deux structures avec des exemples et des contrastes clairs.
If + Past Simple — Imagining a Present Situation
If + Prétérit — Imaginer une situation présente
When we imagine a situation or condition that is not real now, we use if + past simple. The meaning is present, not past. We use would in the other part of the sentence.
Quand on imagine une situation ou une condition qui n'est pas réelle maintenant, on utilise if + prétérit. Le sens est présent, pas passé. On utilise would dans l'autre partie de la phrase.
I'd phone him if I knew his number. (but I don't know it)
There are many things I'd like to do if I had more time. (but I don't)
If you were in my position, what would you do?
We do not usually say if … would. We use would in the other part of the sentence, not in the if clause:
On ne dit pas normalement if … would. On utilise would dans l'autre partie de la phrase, pas dans la proposition en if :
✗ If I would be rich, I would travel a lot.
✓ Who would you ask if you needed help?
✗ Who would you ask if you would need help?
Real situation → will
Situation réelle → will
Imagined situation → would
Situation imaginée → would
I Wish + Past Simple — Expressing Regret About the Present
I Wish + Prétérit — Exprimer un regret sur le présent
We use wish to say that we regret something — that something is not as we would like it to be. After wish, we use the past simple, even though the meaning is present.
On utilise wish pour dire qu'on regrette quelque chose. Après wish, on utilise le prétérit, même si le sens est présent.
I wish I knew Paul's phone number. (= I don't know it — I regret this)
Do you ever wish you could fly? (you can't fly)
I wish I didn't have to work tomorrow. (but unfortunately I do)
Were vs Was After If and Wish
Were vs Was après If et Wish
After if and wish, you can use were instead of was for all persons. Were is more formal/traditional, but was is also acceptable in informal English.
Après if et wish, on peut utiliser were à la place de was pour toutes les personnes. Were est plus formel, mais was est acceptable en anglais informel.
Could in Hypothetical Sentences
Could dans les phrases hypothétiques
In hypothetical sentences with if and wish, could can mean would be able to (result clause) or was/were able to (if/wish clause).
Dans les phrases hypothétiques avec if et wish, could peut signifier would be able to (proposition principale) ou was/were able to (proposition if/wish).
if she could speak another language. (= if she was able to speak)
I wish I could help you. (= I wish I was able to)
It would be useful if he could drive. (= if he was able to)
Put the verb into the correct form (if + past simple)
Mettez le verbe à la bonne forme (if + prétérit)
Write a sentence with "if …" for each situation
Écrivez une phrase avec "if …" pour chaque situation
Write sentences beginning "I wish …"
Écrivez des phrases commençant par "I wish …"
Choose: if I do OR if I did
Choisissez : if I do OR if I did
Real (present simple) or imagined (past simple)?
Réelle (présent simple) ou imaginée (prétérit) ?
Exercise 5 — Mixed: complete with the correct form
Exercice 5 — Mixte : complétez avec la bonne forme
Use would, were/was, past simple or could as appropriate.
Utilisez would, were/was, le prétérit ou could selon le cas.
Frequently Asked Questions — If I knew / I wish I knew
Questions fréquentes — If I knew / I wish I knew
In English, the past simple after if and wish does not refer to the past — it expresses an imagined or hypothetical present situation. For example: If I knew his number (= I don't know it now). This is called the "subjunctive mood" in grammar.
En anglais, le prétérit après if et wish ne réfère pas au passé — il exprime une situation présente imaginée. Par exemple : If I knew his number (= je ne le connais pas maintenant).
If I do (present simple) = real, possible situations. If I did (past simple) = imagined, hypothetical, or unlikely situations.
If I do (présent) = situations réelles et possibles. If I did (prétérit) = situations imaginées ou hypothétiques.
Both are accepted. Were is the traditional/formal form. Was is common in informal spoken English. In formal writing and exams, were is generally preferred.
Les deux sont acceptés. Were est la forme traditionnelle/formelle. Was est courant à l'oral informel.
No — these are incorrect. ✗ If I would know → ✓ If I knew. ✗ I wish I would have more time → ✓ I wish I had more time.
Non — ce sont des formes incorrectes. ✗ If I would know → ✓ If I knew.
In the if/wish clause, could means "was/were able to". In the result clause, could means "would be able to". I wish I could sing = I wish I was able to sing.
Dans la proposition en if/wish, could = "était capable de". Dans la principale, could = "serait capable de".
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