The pattern

"What if" plus a sentence imagines a possibility. It does three jobs. It worries: "What if it rains?" It suggests: "What if we left earlier?" And it dreams: "What if we moved to Lisbon?" The tone tells the listener which one you mean.

For a worry or a real possibility, use the present: "What if the flight is late?" For a suggestion or a dream, the past often sounds softer: "What if we tried a different approach?" Both are correct; the past is gentler.

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

  4. A suggestion. The past tense makes it softer.

  9. "So what if" dismisses a worry: it doesn't matter.

  10. A playful setup before surprising news.

Check yourself

1What does "What if we left earlier?" do?
2What does "So what if he's late?" express?
3Which "what if" is a worry?

Practice · 3 min

Imagine a possibility. Prompt on the left, one natural sentence on the right.

  1. 1
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Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.