UNREAL PAST

Wishes

We use past tense forms to talk about wishes:

 We use past tense modals would and could to talk about wishes for the future:

I don’t like my work. I wish I could get a better job.

That’s a dreadful noise. I wish it would stop.
I always have to get home early. I wish my parents would let me stay out later.

  We use past tense forms to talk about wishes for the present:

I don’t like this place. I wish I lived in somewhere more interesting.

These seats are very uncomfortable. I wish we were travelling first class.
Everyone wishes they had more free time.
John wishes he wasn’t so busy.
I wish it wasn’t so cold.

 We use the past perfect to talk about wishes for the past:

I wish I had worked harder when I was at school.

Mary wishes she had listened to what her mother told her.
I wish I hadn’t spent so much money last month.

Hypotheses (things that we imagine)

When we are talking about hypotheses:

 We use present tense forms after phrases like what if, in case and suppose to

talk about the future if we think it is likely to happen:

Those steps are dangerous. Suppose someone has an accident.

We should leave home early in case we are late.

 We use a past tense form to talk about the future after suppose and what if to

suggest something is not likely to happen:
 It might be dangerous. Suppose they got lost.
What if he lost his job. What would happen then?

 We use modals would, could for a hypothesis about the future:

We can’t all stay in a hotel. It would be very expensive.

Drive carefully. You could have an accident.

 We use would in the main clause and the past in a subordinate clause to talk

about the imagined future:

I would always help someone who really needed help.

I would always help someone if they really needed it.

 We use modals with have to talk about something that did not happen in the

past:

I did not see Mary, or I might have spoken to her.

It’s a pity Jack wasn’t at the party. He would have enjoyed this party.
Why didn’t you ask me. I could have told you the answer.

Apart from “wish” other expressions are followed by “Unreal Past”

I'd rather, as if, as though, it's high time, if only, suppose = Past Tense (for present and future)

example: I’d rather you arrived a bit earlier.

If only I could speak Italian.

He sounds as if he were a native speaker of English.

I'd rather, as if, as though, if only, suppose = Past Perfect (for past)

example : Suppose you had met him yesterday. What would have been your reaction?

I'd rather he hadn't spent all his money.

It’s high time we took a holiday.

He looks as though he had seen a ghost.

Notice the difference:

I' rather go. (now)

I'd rather have gone. (past). I didn’t have enough time.

I'd rather you went.(now)

I'd rather you had gone.(past)

A. FILL IN THE GAPS

1. I wouldn't go there if I ______________________(be) you.

2. It's high time you ______________________(mend) your boat.

3. She behaved as though she ______________________(be) the Prime Minister of Greece.

4. He talks to us as if we ______________________(be) stupid.

5. If only I ______________________(find) the answer now.

6. If only I ______________________ (talk) to the boss yesterday.

7. If we ______________________(arrive) on time we would see Tom Cruise.

8. I'd rather you ______________________(not love) that terrible boy!

9. I didn't understand a word. If only he ______________________(speak) more clearly!

10. Playing in the snow is fun. I wish it ______________________(snow) here more often!

11. Just suppose the economy of our country ______________________ (improve) quickly.

12. I’d rather she ______________________ (behave) better at school.