The rule, as people use it

Grammar books call this "mood", and it's about what you're doing with a sentence. Most of the time you're stating a fact or asking about one: "The bus leaves at five." "Is it open?" That's the ordinary form, and it's everything you've seen so far in this unit.

When you tell someone to do something, you use the bare verb with no subject: "Sit down." "Turn left at the light." "Don't worry." This is fine for directions, recipes, warnings and friends. With strangers and coworkers, a bare command can sound sharp, so speakers soften it: "Could you close the door?" "Please take a seat." "Try the soup, it's great." The softer version isn't about grammar. It's about not sounding like a boss.

The third mood is for things that aren't real, or aren't real yet. You'll need it in two places. For advice, "If I were you" uses "were" for everyone, even I, he and she: "If I were you, I'd call her." For wishes about the present, the verb moves one step into the past: "I wish I had a car." "I wish it wasn't so cold." You'll hear "I wish it was" and "I wish it were" from American speakers; both are fine in conversation.

Examples

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

Fill the gap

Type the missing words, then check. The full sentence plays when you get it.

  1. 1

    (not / forget) your umbrella.

  2. 2

    If I (be) you, I'd say yes.

  3. 3

    I wish I (have) a car right now.

  4. 4

    (could / you) open the window, please?

  5. 5

    Olivia wishes she (can) speak French.

  6. 6

    If he (be) here, he'd know what to do.

  7. 7

    Please (sign) here and here.

  8. 8

    I wish we (not / have) to work tomorrow.

Practice · 3 min

Write three bare commands you might give a friend ("Grab me a coffee."), then rewrite each one as a polite request to a coworker ("Could you grab me a coffee?"). Next, write two pieces of advice starting "If I were you, I'd..." and two wishes starting "I wish I...". Say all ten out loud, and listen to how the tone changes between the first set and the second.

Say it today

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