The past subjunctive

The PAST Subjunctive is used in the following structures:

a) I wish and If only
Write the correct transformations using I wish or If only:
1. I really would like to be taller. – I wish I was/were taller – PRESENT
2. I shouldn’t have quit my studies. – I wish I hadn’t quit my studies / I wish I had graduated - PAST
I hate it when you play music so loud. – I wish you wouldn’t play the music so loud. – USED when there are
2 different persons.
Explain the differences between the sentences:
I wish you spoke German. = implies that the person we refer to doesn’t know german at all
I wish you would speak German = implies that the person we refer to speaks german but not in the moment
b) It’s (about)/ (high) time
Fill in the gaps:
Subjunctive: It’s time we started (start) preparing for the trip.
Another structure: It’s time for us to start (start) preparing for the trip.

Subjunctive: It’s about time they decided (decide) where they are going to live.
c) as if/ as though
Fill in the gaps:
It looks as if the ice is melting (melt). – it’s probably melting - TRUE
He makes it sound as if it was/were (be) easy to swim across the Amazon. – it’s not easy / NOT TRUE
They are acting as if nothing had happened (happen). – something has happened / NOT TRUE
You talk about her as though you know (know) her. – you probably know her.
d) would rather/ would sooner ……………… (than)
Fill in the gaps:
Present
I’d rather read (read) than talk (talk). – I’d rather not go (not, go) out too late. – PRESENT
I’d rather you paid (pay) cash. – I’d rather you didn’t go (not, go) out too late. – PAST
Past
I’d sooner have travelled (travel) by plane to Naples last week. – I’d rather not have stayed up (not, stay up) late last
night. – PRESENT EXAMPLES
I’d rather you had traveled (travel) by plane to Naples last year. – I’d sooner you hadn’t brought (not, bring) your
friends to my party last Saturday. – PAST EXAMPLES

BE CAREFUL!
Each of the structures above is unique and you should not mix them up, i.e. the patterns for I wish do not necessarily
correspond to the patterns for it’s time, as if, I’d rather, etc.