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English grammar

Wishes, preferences and it’s time: the unreal past

C1 · Advanced Verbs and time Questions 10

The rule

Several expressions move the verb one step into the past to show that something is not real. After wish and if only, the past simple is about the present (I wish I knew), the past perfect about the past (If only I had listened), and would about someone else’s behaviour that you want to change (I wish you would stop interrupting) — never about yourself. After I’d rather or I’d sooner with a new subject, a past form means a preference about now or the future (I’d rather you didn’t smoke here); with the same subject it is the bare infinitive (I’d rather stay). It’s time, It’s high time and It’s about time + subject + past simple say that something should already be happening (It’s high time we left). As if / as though + past mark a comparison as unreal (He talks as if he owned the place), and suppose, imagine and what if + past make a suggestion or hypothesis more tentative.

Pattern

wish / if only + past (now) · + past perfect (past) · + would (someone else’s habit) · I’d rather + new subject + past · it’s (high / about) time + subject + past · as if / as though + past · what if / suppose + past

Examples

  1. I wish I had more time to read.

  2. If only we had booked a table in advance.

  3. I’d rather you didn’t tell my parents just yet.

  4. It’s high time the council did something about the traffic.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: I wish I know the answer.

    Right: I wish I knew the answer.

    A wish about now takes the past simple.

  • Wrong: I’d rather you don’t call me at work.

    Right: I’d rather you didn’t call me at work.

    With a new subject, I’d rather takes the past.

  • Wrong: It’s time we go home.

    Right: It’s time we went home.

    It’s time + subject takes the past simple.

  • Wrong: I wish I would be taller.

    Right: I wish I were taller.

    wish … would is for other people’s behaviour, not your own states.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Fill in the gap.

    I wish I _____ how to fix this, but I have no idea.

    1. have known
    2. knew
    3. would know
    4. know
    Show answer

    Answer: B I wish I knew how to fix this, but I have no idea.

    A wish about the present: past simple.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    1. If only I have listened to you.
    2. If only I would listen to you.
    3. If only I listened to your advice.
    4. If only I had listened to your advice.
    Show answer

    Answer: D If only I had listened to your advice.

    Regret about the past: if only + past perfect.

  3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the speaker want?

    I wish you would stop checking your phone.

    1. To check her own phone more often than now
    2. The listener to buy a phone
    3. The listener to change a habit
    4. To stop her own habit
    Show answer

    Answer: C The listener to change a habit

    wish … would asks someone else to change.

  4. 4This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    It’s high time you start looking for a job.

    1. It’s high time you started looking for a job.
    2. It’s high time you had start looking for a job.
    3. It’s high time you starting looking for a job.
    4. It’s high time you will start looking for a job.
    Show answer

    Answer: A It’s high time you started looking for a job.

    It’s high time + subject + past simple.

  5. 5Change the sentence.

    Say you would prefer them not to do it.

    Please do not park in front of our garage.

    1. I’d rather not you park in front of our garage.
    2. I’d rather that you would not be parking in front of our garage.
    3. I’d rather you don’t park in front of our garage.
    4. I’d rather you didn’t park in front of our garage.
    Show answer

    Answer: D I’d rather you didn’t park in front of our garage.

    New subject after I’d rather: past form, here negative.

  6. 6Choose the correct sentence.

    1. I’d rather I stay in tonight, if you don’t mind.
    2. I’d rather to stay in tonight, if you don’t mind.
    3. I’d rather stay in tonight, if you don’t mind.
    4. I’d rather staying in tonight, if you don’t mind.
    Show answer

    Answer: C I’d rather stay in tonight, if you don’t mind.

    Same subject: I’d rather + bare infinitive.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    What is true?

    He talks as if he owned the company.

    1. He used to own the company.
    2. He will own the company soon.
    3. He does not own the company.
    4. He definitely owns the company.
    Show answer

    Answer: C He does not own the company.

    as if + past shows the comparison is unreal.

  8. 8Fill in the gap.

    If only it _____ raining; we could have the party outside.

    1. stops
    2. will stop
    3. stopped to
    4. would stop
    Show answer

    Answer: D If only it would stop raining; we could have the party outside.

    if only … would wishes for a change that is out of your hands.

  9. 9Put the words in the right order.

    I wish I had known about it sooner

    Show answer

    Answer: I wish I had known about it sooner.

    A wish about the past: past perfect.

  10. 10Change the sentence.

    Say it should already be happening.

    We need to repaint the kitchen.

    1. It’s about time to we repainted it.
    2. It’s about time we will repaint it.
    3. It’s about time we repainted the kitchen.
    4. It’s about time we repaint the kitchen.
    Show answer

    Answer: C It’s about time we repainted the kitchen.

    It’s about time + subject + past simple.

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