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Tips, insights, and updates about English learning
wish and if only: How to Express Regrets and Wishes Like "I Wish..." in English
Want to say "I wish I could speak English" or "I wish I hadn't done that" in English? The key lies in which tense to use after wish. This article uses three simple scenarios to teach you three ways to use wish and if only, plus a one-second tip to instantly determine the correct tense.
The Ultimate Guide to the Third Conditional: How to Say "I Wish I Had Known" with If I had known...
"I wish I had brought an umbrella," "If I had studied that day, I would have done well on the test"—these regrets and hypotheses about the past are expressed in English using the third conditional. This article teaches you the If + had p.p., would have p.p. sentence pattern and how it links with wish structures, complete with a summary table of the three conditional types so you can understand it at a glance and start speaking it right away.
If I were you... The Second Conditional: How to Express "Contrary-to-Fact" Scenarios Naturally and Authentically
Struggling to say "If I had money, I would travel the world"? The second conditional is specifically used to hypothesize about situations contrary to present facts. With one formula, a little secret about were, and one quick tip, you can start sounding natural and authentic right away.