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.