I wish If only Unreal uses of past

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I wish… If only… 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

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

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

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

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

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.