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if you want to do vs if you wanted to do something

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'If you want to do' is used to express a present or future possibility, while 'if you wanted to do something' is used to talk about a hypothetical or unreal situation in the past. They are not directly comparable as they serve different purposes.

Last updated: March 08, 2024 • 5709 views

if you want to do

This phrase is correct and commonly used to express a present or future possibility.

This phrase is used to talk about a present or future action that is possible or likely to happen.

Examples:

  • If you want to do well in the exam, you need to study hard.
  • If you want to go out tonight, let me know.
  • If you want to succeed, you have to work hard.
  • If you want to do really important things in life and big things in life, you can't do anything by yourself. And your best teams are your friends and your siblings.
  • If You Want to Do Something Really Big. John Hewko. From the June 2013 Issue. SAVE; SHARE; COMMENT · TEXT SIZE; PRINT; 6. BUY PDF. If You Want to ...
  • If you want to do this, then you have to be creative about how it can be possible. Maybe you want a delicious cake. Well, then first you should imagine that you're ...
  • You have to plan if you want to do more: you need to know what you want to accomplish and what steps you'll need to get there. When goal setting, think in ...

Alternatives:

  • if you wish to do
  • if you desire to do
  • if you choose to do

if you wanted to do something

This phrase is correct and is used to talk about a hypothetical or unreal situation in the past.

This phrase is used to discuss a situation in the past that did not happen, but was a possibility at that time.

Examples:

  • If you wanted to go to the party, why didn't you?
  • If you wanted to learn Spanish, you should have taken the class.
  • If you wanted to travel the world, you should have saved more money.
  • “if you wanted to do something absolutely honest, something true, it always turned out to be a thing that had to be done alone.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary ...
  • “if you wanted to do something absolutely honest, something true, it always turned out to be a thing that had to be done alone.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary ...
  • If you wanted to do something really huge . . . for someone . . . or for a project . . . for me. [A beat.] Eugene Simonet: Trevor, she made a choice. Trevor McKinney: ...
  • And it is through this action that she realizes herself and her situation in the meaning of her own last words—“that if you wanted to do something absolutely ...

Alternatives:

  • if you had wanted to do something
  • if you had wished to do something
  • if you had desired to do something

Related Comparisons

suggest you do vs suggest you to do want me to do vs want me do if you want to pee vs when you pee if you want to review vs if you want to cross check Where you wanted to do vs Where you wanted to if you wanted to do vs if you want to do

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