Unreal uses of past tenses I wish… If only… Unreal uses of past tenses

WISH + PAST SIMPLE: wishes about the present To talk about things we would like to be different in the present/future (but which are impossible or unlikely). I can’t buy a new house. I wish I were rich. (But I’m not) With COULD, to talk about possibilities or abilities you want to change. I wish I could speak Russian, but I only speak Spanish. Wish + person/thing + would to talk about things you want to change because they annoy you. I wish you would listen to me!

WISH + PAST PERFCT: regrets To talk about things which happened/didn’t happen in the past and which we now regret. I wish I hadn’t spoken to Jane like that – you know how sensitive she is.

IF ONLY… Instead of wish with the past simple and past perfect. This can be used by itself (If only I knew!) or with another clause. It can show more emotion than I wish. If only I knew the answer! If only you hadn’t forgotten the map, we’d be there by now.

WOULD RATHER would rather + subject + past tense To express a preference. I would rather you smoked outside. would rather + infinitive To express a preference BUT the subject is the same. (DON’T USE to) I would rather have a salad. I would rather not talk about the exam.

IT’S TIME It’s time + subject + past simple To say that something has to be done now or in the near future. Don’t you think it’s time you found a job? We can use it’s time + infinitive when we don’t want to specify the subject It’s time to go. It’s late. We sometimes use high before time for emphasis. It’s high time the Government did something about unemployment.