A past tense form does not always have a past meaning. In some kinds of sentences we use past verb forms to talk about the present or future.
*After if, unless, supposing etc.
After if, unless and words with similar meanings, we often use past verb forms to talk about the present or future.
You look as if you were frightenedright now: are you?
If I got my rise at the end of the month, I would buy a car.
If you caught the early morning flight tomorrow, you could be in Singapore by supper-time.
Supposing we didn't go out tonight, what would you do instead? Unless it rainedtonight, I would go dancing.
*After it’s time, would rather and wish Past verb forms can be used with a present or future meaning after these expressions.
I wish I had more money.
I just wish I was/were younger!
I'd rather you told me the truth right away no matter how hard it was.
It's already eleven o’clock – it is time you went home.
*In questions and requests
We can make questions, requests and offers sound more polite by using past tenses. Common expressions are I wondered, I thought, I hoped etc.
Past progressive verb forms like I was wondering are even more polite.
I was hoping you could lend me a pound.
I wondered if you were free this evening.
*In the many uses of would:
used for talking about the result of an event that you imagine:
She'd look better with shorter hair.If you went to see him, he would be delighted.Hurry up! It would be a shame to miss the beginning of the play.She'd be a fool to accept it (= if she accepted).
used for describing a possible action or event that did not in fact happen, because something else did not happen first:
If I had seen the advertisement in time I would have applied for the job.They would never have met if she hadn't gone to Emma's party.
so that/in order that somebody/something wouldused for saying why somebody does something:
She burned the letters so that her husband would never read them.
wish (that) somebody/something wouldused for saying what you want to happen when it sounds like a complaint:I wish you'd be quiet for a minute.
used to show that somebody/something was not willing or refused to do somethingShe wouldn't change it, even though she knew it was wrong.My car wouldn't start this morning.
used to ask somebody politely to do somethingWould you mind leaving us alone for a few minutes?Would you open the door for me, please?
used in polite offers or invitationsWould you like a sandwich?Would you have dinner with me on Friday?
would like, love, hate, prefer, etc. something/(somebody) to do something|would rather do something/somebody did somethingused to say what you like, love, hate, etc.I'd love a coffee.I'd be only too glad to help.I'd hate you to think I was criticizing you.I'd rather come with you.I'd rather you came with us.
would imagine, say, think, etc. (that)…used to give opinions that you are not certain aboutI would imagine the job will take about two days.I'd say he was about fifty.
I would…used to give adviceI wouldn't have any more to drink, if I were you.
used for talking about things that often happened in the pastsynonymused toWhen my parents were away, my grandmother would take care of me.He'd always be the first to offer to help.
used for talking about behaviour that you think is typical(usually used disapprovingly)
‘She said it was your fault.’ ‘Well, she would say that, wouldn't she? She's never liked me.’
would that…(literary)used to express a strong wish in poetic style.Would that he had lived to see it.
Would that it were true! (If only it were true! We wish that it were true!)
Would that his mother had lived to see him become president.
