Dreaming in English

Do you ever daydream? Maybe you sit at your desk and think, "If I had a million dollars, I would travel the world." Or maybe you look out the window at the rain and think, "I wish it were sunny."

We all imagine different realities! In English, when we want to talk about imagined situations or regrets in the present, we use a very special trick: we use the past tense.

It sounds strange at first—why use the past tense for right now? Think of it this way: the past tense creates a "distance" from reality. It tells the listener, "This isn't real right now; I am just imagining it."

Let’s break down how to use "If I knew" and "I wish I knew" so you can start daydreaming in perfect English!

1. Imagining Different Situations: "If I knew..." (The Second Conditional)

We use If + Past Simple to talk about a present situation that is imaginary, unlikely, or impossible. To finish the thought, we use would + base verb for the result.

The Rule:

If + [Past Simple], subject + would + [Base Verb]

Examples:

• Imagination: "If I had more time, I would read more books."
  • Reality: I don't have much time right now, so I don't read a lot.
• Imagination: "If we lived closer to the beach, we would go surfing every weekend."
  • Reality: We don't live close to the beach.
• Imagination: "If I knew Paul's phone number, I would call him."
  • Reality: I don't know his number, so I can't call him.

💡 Tip: You can also flip the sentence around. Just remember to take out the comma!

• I would read more books if I had more time.

2. Expressing Regret: "I wish I knew..."

Sometimes, we are unhappy with a present situation and we want it to be different. This is when we use the verb wish. Just like with the "If" sentences, we follow "wish" with the past simple to show that our desire is not our current reality.

The Rule:

I wish + subject + [Past Simple]

Examples:

• Wish: "I wish I knew Paul's phone number."
  • Reality: It’s a pity that I don't know his number right now.
• Wish: "I wish I had a car."
  • Reality: I have to take the bus, and I don't like it.
• Wish: "It's freezing today. I wish I lived in Thailand!"
  • Reality: I live somewhere cold.

3. The Special Rule: Was vs. Were

Here is where English gets a little bit strange! When we use the verb "to be" in these imaginary sentences, we often use were instead of was for all subjects (I, he, she, it).

In formal English, were is always the best choice. In casual, spoken English, you will hear native speakers use both was and were, but were is very common.

Examples:

• If I were rich, I would buy a boat. (Not: If I was rich...)
• I wish it were Friday. (Not: I wish it was Friday...)
• If she were taller, she could play basketball.

Giving Advice: We use the phrase "If I were you..." all the time to give advice to our friends. We never say "If I was you."

• "If I were you, I would study for the test tonight."
• "I wouldn't buy that expensive jacket if I were you."

Summary Checklist ✅

To check your understanding, remember these three key points:

1. Use the past simple to talk about imaginary situations in the present.
2. Use "If [past simple] ... would [verb]" to explain what you would do in a dream situation.
3. Use "I wish [past simple]" to talk about something you want to change right now.
4. Use "were" instead of "was" for a more natural and correct sound, especially when giving advice (If I were you).