Page 433 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

past verb form with present or future meaning 426
1 after conjunctions, instead of would
In most subordinate clauses (e.g. after if, supposing. wherever. what). we use past tenses (and not would . ..) to express 'unreal' or conditional ideas (see 580.6).
If I had the money now I'd buy a car.
Ifyou caught the ten o'clock train tomorrow you would be in Edinburgh by
supper-time. unless the train was delayed, ofcourse. You look as ifyou were just about to scream. Supposing we didn't go on holiday next year?
Would you follow me wherever I went?
In a perfect world. you would be able to say exactly what you thought. Ten o'clock - it's time (that) you went home.
Don't come and see me today -I'd rather (that) you came tomorrow.
I wish (that) I had a better memory.
2 distancing in questions, requests etc
We can make questions. requests and offers less direct (and so more polite) by using past tenses. (For more about 'distancing' of this kind. see 436.) Common formulae are I wondered. I thought, I hoped, did you want.
I wondered ifyou were free this evening.
I thought you might like some flowers. Did you want cream with your coffee, sir?
Past progressive forms (I was thinkingl wonderingl hoping etc) make sentences even less direct.
J was thinking about that idea ofyours.
I was hoping we could have dinner together.
3 'past' modals
The 'past' modal forms could, might, would and should usually have present or future reference; they are used as less direct, 'distanced' forms of can, may, will and shall.
Could you help me for a moment? Would you come this way, please? I think it might rain soon. Alice should be here soon.
4 past focus on continuing situations
If we are talking about the past, we usually use past tenses even for things which are still true and situations which still exist.
Are you deaf? I asked how old you were.
I'm sorry we left Liverpool. It was such a nice place.
Do you remember that nice couple we met on holiday? They were German,
weren't they?
I got this job because I was a good driver.
Bill applied to join the police last week, but he wasn't tall enough.
For more indirect speech examples. see 275. 278.
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