UNREAL USE OF PAST TENSES

I WISH/ IF ONLY! (stronger feelings)

STRUCTURE
MEANING
EXAMPLE
I WISH
IF ONLY
I WISH
IF ONLY
I WISH
IF ONLY

I wish my hair wasnt

+ past simple /
Wishes referred to the so curly.
present or future.
I wish you could stay
could
with us.
A desired change with I wish it would rain.
emphasis on a sense of I wish you wouldnt
+ would
longing or irritation.
smoke so much.
I wish I hadnt got
+ past perfect / Wishes referred to the so angry.
past; regret
I wish I could have
could have
studied more.

ITS TIME / ITS ABOUT TIME / ITS HIGH TIME

STRUCTURE
MEANING
EXAMPLE
ITS TIME + subj. +
past simple

Its time you went to

It means that the action
bed.
should have been done
Its about time you
before.
started working.

ITS TIME + to
infinitive

When we dont want to

Its time to go
specify the subject.

ID RATHER (WOULD RATHER)

STRUCTURE
MEANING
ID RATHER + subj.+
past simple
ID RATHER + subj.+
past perfect

EXAMPLE

Id rather you didnt

We express what we want
stay out too late.
someone to do in the
Id rather the film
present or future.
started earlier.
Id rather you hadnt
We express what we
said that.
wanted to happen in the
Id rather she had
past.
bought it.

COMPARE:
WOULD RATHER + infinitive
We talk about peoples preferences in
the present or future.
Id rather go to the beach than to the
mountains.
Id rather take the bus

HAD BETTER + infinitive

We use it to express what should be
done, or give advice.

Id better be off now.

Youd better leave soon.

EXERCISES
Put the verbs in brackets into an appropriate verb form.
1. Id rather you (not/watch) television while Im reading.
2. Its high time you (start) working seriously.
3. I wish I .. (spend) more time swimming last summer.
4. I wish you . (not/keep) coming late to class.
5. I wish I (go) to your party after all.
6. Id rather you . (sit) next to Susan, please.
7. You are lucky going to Italy. I wish I .(go) with you.
Correct the mistakes in each sentence.
1. I wish I bought that old house.
2. Id rather you dont eat all the bread.
3. Its time I go.
4. I wish I own a motorbike.
5. I wish we are not leaving in the morning.
6. Sue would rather reading than watching television.
7. I wish I didnt listen to you before.
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given.
1. Do you ever regret not going to university? (WISH)
Do you ever to university?
2. I should really be going home now. (TIME)
Its ..home now.
3. Id love to be able to go with you to the opera. (WISH)
I . go with you to the opera.
4. Id rather you didnt stay long at the party. (BETTER)
It ..stay long at the party.
5. Ive had enough of your constant complaining! (WISH)
I complaining all the time.
6. Id love to be sitting on a beach in Turkey right now. (WISH)
I .. on a beach in Turkey right now.