Date post: | 14-Jun-2015 |
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3C Unreal uses of past tenses
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WISH + PAST SIMPLE
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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).
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It’s a difficult problem. I wish I knew the answer to it!We sometimes use that after wish, e.g. I wish that I knew the answer.
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WISH + PAST PERFECT
We use wish + past perfect to talk about things which happened/didn’t happen in the past and which we now regret.
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I wish I hadn't spoken to Jane like that! You know how sensitive she is.
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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 I knew the answer! If only you hadn’t forgotten the map, we’d be there by now.
If only is more emphatic than wish.
! 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,
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I wish the bus would come! If only he wouldn’t keep whistling when I’m working!
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WOULD RATHER + SUBJECT+ PAST TENSE
We use would rather + subject + past tense to express a preference.
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I’d rather you left your dog outside – I’m allergic to animals. Are you sure this is a good time to talk? Would you rather I called back later?
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.
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! 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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IT’S TIME + SUBJECT + PAST TENSE
We use It’s time + subject + past tense to say that something has to be done now or in the near future. We sometimes use high before time for emphasis.
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Don’t you think it’s time you found a job? It’s six months since you finished university! It’s (high) time the government did something about unemployment.