CoN TENSES FOR UNREAL SITUATIONS ‘A Read some comments on the One and Other Project, Which ones do you agree with? 1 Thisis great. It's about time people realised that artis for everyone. 2. These are normal people acting asif they were artists, but what they're doing isrit art. 3. Lwish | was brave enough to do something like that in front of everyone. | admire them for their courage. 4% imagine you had sixty minutes to perform in public. | think it would be hard 5 Id rather nobody noticed me in public. 'd hate to be up there 6 What if had been on the plinth? Id have done something about worid peace. B Look at the underlined clauses in the comments above and answer the questions. 1 What is the tense of the final verbs in each undertined clause? One of the verbs is a different tense. Which one? 2 Dothe underlined clauses refer to a) the past, or ») an imeginery/hypothetical situation? [> page 144 LANGUAGEBANK tenses for unreal situations ter some expressions, we use past tenses to describe unreal or imaginary situations. These ideas may refer to the past, present or future. it’stime Use its time + past simple to say that something is not happening but it should be. It’s time you went home. Vie can also use it’s high time + past simple or it’s about time + past simple. These are mare emphatic than its time. ts high time she left her boyfriend! tS about time you found « jeb! what if/suppose/supposing Use what if/suppose/supposing + past simple to ask about imaginary situations and thelr consequences in the present ‘or future, These are similar to second conditional questions. What if you missed the plane? ‘Suppose you got injurec, what would the coach say? ‘Supposing they gave you the prize, how would you feel? We can also use these expressions with the past perfect. This is similar to the third conditional. What if you'd failed your exam last week, whet would you ‘have done? ? Complete the sentences with the words in the box. (see rather would imagine if had was hadn't 1. He walked in here as though he ahero. 2 Ifonly! lost my lottery ticket, Id be rich! 3/Its___ you stopped complaining and did something! 4 Supposing you have said? 5 Id nobody knew about my plans. 6 He you could speak twenty languages! Wouldn't that be amazing? 7 What you could retire right now? Would you 8 |___ sooner doa research paper than take the exam. seen her! What would you B Answer the questions. Then compare your answers. with other students, 1. Would you rather somebody took you to film or to the theatre? A rock concert or a ballet? 2 Imagine you could own any painting or sculpture in the world, Which would you choose? 3. Supposing you were asked to actin a soap opera, Under what conditions would you accept? 4 If someone from yourhome town said, ‘t's time we did something cultural’ what would you suggest? would rather/would sooner Use would rather/would sooner + past simple to describe proferences. ''d rather you didn't play football inside, I'd sooner they gave me a cheque than a watch when I retire If the person expressing the preference i also the subject of the preference, use the infinitive (not the past tense). {'d rather go to Madogescar than Hawai 1'd sooner eat breed than coke asiffas though Use as f/as though + past simple to say that appearance is, different from reality She treats meas if | had o disease. (The speaker knows he doesn't have a disease) They use this ploce as though it was « playground. (Itisn’ta playground) Use the present simple/present perfect with these expressions when the situation may be true. He acts as if he knows what he's doing. (Maybe he knows what he’s doing) You look as though you haven't slept for days. (Maybe she hasn't slept for days.)A Cross out the incorrect alternative, 1 Id prefer/sooner/rather we went somewhere picturesque than stay here, 2 He scores goals as if/as were/os though it was the easiest thing in the world. 3 What if/Suppose/How about that half-baked idea became a reality? 4 Its the/nigh/about time she started living up to her name. 5 She'd rather/want that/sooner they ‘came up with some ideas than just criticise. 6 Supposing/Rather/Suppose your career went downhill, what would you do? 7 Isn't it one time/time/about time you took her feelings into consideration, too? 8 In meetings, 'm treated as if/as though/as | was an idiot. 'B Rewrite the sentences using the words in brackets and the past simple. 1 You really should speak to your mother. (high time) 2 What would happen if | pressed this button? (Suppose) 3. The wey they treat that girl, you'd think she was a princess. (as though) 4 Given the choice, | would learn Chinese instead of German, (ss0ne") 5 Imagine a volcanic eruption ina densely populated area (What if) 6 She ought tostop smokingnow.(abouttime) 7 Anyone would think they own the piace, the way they behave, (as if) 8 | donit want you to go there. (rather) “ajay cB jupip oA ioipes Pl “epejd ola paume/umo Ady 4152 One4Oq KOUL L “Buyouss poddors ays aun ynoqe $3) 9 eae pareindod ‘Ajasuap e uy woRdrsa 2Ue>|ON e DiSM ANDY! TEUM (wew25 ue\a asaui4yD Lue saU005 P| ‘aDIOyI eR VENID » “ssanuud e auam ays YBnown se UB reyiaean MayL € guaddey pinom yeym wornng siyi passaud | asoddns 2 FaYIOUL INK GT ayOds NOK auNN YH 53} TB seg ownsoL Joyey 9 TEAUERE BNyY WRETEMOHE amMseZ PITY ssuomsuyq Worksheet A 1 Read the sentences and write your own opinions/answers in the second column. 2. Read out your sentences using the correct verb forms and write Student B's opinions/answers in the third column. How many are the same as yours? J, koranswer ‘My partner's answers Its high time the govemment (do) more for the disadvantaged in society. 2 What f you (have) the chance to redesign the school. What changes (make)? 3 Suppose you (Go) to live on a desert island alone. What three books (take) with you? 4 Id rather my teacher (not give) us any homework today. 5 Id sooner (eat) fish than meat, given the choice, 6 My father always tells jokes as if he (be) the best comedian in the world, but he's not funny. 7 Its about time | (settle down) and started a family. @ Ifeelas though | (know) this grammar very well now. Worksheet B 1 Read the sentences and write your own opinions/answers in the second column, 2. Read out your sentences using the correct verb forms and write Student A's opinions/answers in the third column, How many are the same as yours? v,koranswer ‘My partner's answers 1 Its about time | (start) eating more healthy. you (not start) this course. What (do) now? 1 [3 Thate it when people treat me as though I (not exist). 4 Its high time | (Find) a new job. 5 Supposing you (live) in another country. How (your life/be) different now? 6 ld sooner my teacher (Correct) me when [made mistakes. 7 1d rather (travel by train than bus, given the choice 8 Im really tired today, | feel as if (not sleep) well for along time. ' ' t t ' t ' ' t t ' t