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The past tense is sometimes used in English to
refer to an 'unreal' situation. So, although the tense is the
past, we are usually talking about the present. |
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I WISH... |
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We use wish + past simple to talk about things we would like to be
different in the present / future (but which are impossible or unlikely
to change).
We use wish + past perfect to talk about things which happened / didn't
happen in the past and which we now regret.
We sometimes use that after wish, e.g. I wish that I knew the answer. |
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1. |
It's a difficult problem.
I wish I knew the answer to
it! |
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2. |
I wish I hadn't spoken to
her like that. She is so sensitive. |
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3. |
I wish I had
more money (= but I haven't) |
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4. |
She wishes she
was beautiful (= but she's not) |
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5. |
We wish we could
come to your party (= but we can't) |
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IF ONLY... |
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You can also use 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. If only is more emphatic than wish. |
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1. |
If only I knew the answer! |
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2. |
If only you
hadn't forgotten the map, we'd be there by now. |
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3. |
If only I had
more money. (= but I haven't). |
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NOTE: When we want to talk about things we want to happen or stop happening
because they annoy us, we use wish or If only + person / thing +
would +
infinitive. Check these two examples:
It's really late. I wish the bus would come soon!
If only Paul wouldn't keep
whistling when I'm working! |
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I'D RATHER... |
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We use would rather + subject + past tense to express a preference. We can also use
would rather + infinitive without to when there is no
change of subject, e.g. I'd rather not talk about it. However, we cannot
use this structure when the subject changes after would rather, e.g.
I'd
rather you didn't talk about it NOT I'd rather you not talk about it
. |
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1. |
I'd rather you left your dog outside
– I'm allergic to animals. |
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2. |
Would you rather
I called you back later on today? |
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NOTE: To show what our preference is the stress can be
really important in this type of sentences. Check these examples:
I'd rather you went (= not me).
I'd rather you went (= don't stay in here).
I'd rather you called the police (= I don't want to).
I'd rather you called the police (= not the ambulance
service). |
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IT'S (HIGH) TIME... |
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We use the past simple after It's time + subject to say that something
has to be done now or in the near future. We can also use It's time + to + infinitive when we don't want to
specify the subject, e.g. It's time to go now. We sometimes use
high before time for emphasis. |
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1. |
Don't you think
it's time you found a job? It's six months since you
finished university! |
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3. |
It's (high) time
our government launched some measures about unemployment. |
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NOTE: Remember that when we want to say that now is a
suitable moment to do something – either for ourselves or for
someone else – we can use the structure it's time + past
tense:
It's (high) time I went back home. It's really late.
It's time you paid that bill. It's getting hot in here.
Don't you think it's time you had a haircut? |
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On the next page you will be able to practise
this grammar. |
