HAD + PAST PARTICIPLE

In a past unreal (untrue) conditional structure, the verb in the condition statement, the clause after if, takes the form
of a past perfect verb.

If Jack had seen the iceberg,

(the hero in the Titanic movie)

If Rose had known it,

(the main character in the Titanic movie)

If Molly had talked any longer,

(a character in the movie)

If Cal had been a better man,

(the villain in the movie)

MODAL + HAVE + PARTICIPLE

The verb in the effect-clause, the main clause, takes the form of would have, could have, should have , or
might have + participle.

he would have told the captain.

she could have left him earlier.

she would have put everyone to sleep.

he might have acted in a kinder manner.

Unreal Past

Would Rather + Past Tense

To talk about an action when we want someone to do something
I would rather you didn't sleep all day.
I would rather you came tomorrow.

Would Rather + Past Perfect

To talk about past action
I would rather you hadn't done that.
I would rather he hadn't spent all his pocket money.

Would Rather + Past Tense

In the sentences we use the Past Tense but its meaning is
present or future moment.
I would rather make a lemon cake now.
I would rather you didn't make it.

Would Rather + Than

To make a choice
Would you rather play tennis than go to the cinema?
I would rather have tea than coffee.

After Would Rather we use the infinitive without ' to '.

The negative is : I would rather not ( do sth )
I would rather walk. ( now )
I would rather have gone.( past )
I would rather you ate. ( now )
I would rather you had been there. ( past )

If Only
To express regrets about the past or the present that we would
like to change.
If only I hadn't drunk so much, I wouldn't have said it.
If only I didn't have so much homework I could read the book.

To talk about the past

If only I had known you were arriving.

If only I had studied harder when I was at school.

To complain
If only it would rain. My flowers are very dry.
If only she would be a better cook.

To express a hope or wish

If only I had a faster car.
If only I had more money.