If I knew... I wish I knew

This grammar point explains how to talk about present situations that are unreal or hypothetical. We use the past simple after if (in conditional clauses) and after wish to express something that is not true now but we imagine or want it to be different.

• Use If + past simple ... would + base verb to talk about hypothetical present results.
• Use I wish + past simple to express regret or desire about a present situation.
• These forms describe contrasts with reality now (they are contrary-to-fact).

Remember the core pattern:

• Use If + past simple in the if-clause, and would + base verb in the main clause: If I knew → I would ...
• Use I wish + past simple to express desire or regret about the present: I wish I knew ...
• Don't use would in the if-clause. 'Would' belongs in the result clause.

For regrets about the past, use I wish + past perfect (I wish I had known).

Watch out for these universal errors:

• Using would in the if-clause (Wrong: If I would know...).
• Using present simple after if or wish for present unreal (Wrong: If I know / I wish I know).
• Confusing past simple and past perfect (use past perfect for past regrets: I wish I had known).
• Using will in the if-clause when describing hypothetical present situations (Wrong: If I will know...).
• Placing 'would' with both clauses or adding extra modals unnecessarily.

Focus on tense consistency: past simple for present unreal, past perfect for past unreal.