unreal past tensewishes about the present

Like a second conditional sentence, these wishes use a past tense form to express a feeling about thepresent.

t wish t knew the enswet: (= If I knew the answer, it would be better.)t wish it wasn't raining! (= If it wasn't raining, it would be better.)t wish they were arriving earlier.t wish I was / were Iying on the beach at this moment!

Iwish Iwas Iyiny on a neacn.

Wishes with could also express a feeling about the present.t wish f could get a better job. (now)

wishes about the past

Wishes about the past use past perfect in the same way as a third conditional sentence.t wish t had brought an umbref/a with me.( = If I had brought an umbrella with me, it would have been better.)t wish we'd left earlier.( = If we had left earlier it would have been better.)

hope

Wishes about the future are expressed wit h hope.t hope you enjoy your trip. (future)I hope I can / will be able to get a better job. (future)

wishes with would / woukin't

• Wishes with would / wouldn't are about general behaviour or habits, often bad ones which wewould change.I wish everyone would /eave me a/one.t wish you'd stop interrupting me. I wish you wouldn't do that.

• Using unreal past tense can give the same meaning in some contexts.t wish it didn't rain 50 much. (it may or may not be raining now)I wish it wouldn't rain sa much. (it's probably raining now)

• To wish someone would do something can also mean that we would like them to do it.I wish you would ask for my advice more often.

- vere you for giving advice. Note that I and you are stressed more heavily than were. ł e ii-~ come at the beginning ar at the end.

_~r toudi that wite, if I were you.re you, rd go to the police.

use would rather / would saoner + infinitive to express choice.you rather stay at home?er have tea than coffee.

rather / would saoner + person + unreal past are used to show what we would like sameoneo do ar not to do.

rether you didn't tell anyone. (lt would be better if you didn't tell)sooner she went to university than got a job naw

prefer (see Unit 16)

can use would prefer + to-infinitive to express a preference.J want to go out? No, I think I'd prefer to stay at home.

can compare preferences with rather than.refer to go out for a meal tonight rather than stay in and cook.

u/d prefer + that + unreal past ar would prefer it if + unreal past can be used to show what weuld like someone else to do ar not to do.prefer that you didn't mention this to anyone.prefer it if you didn't mention this to anyone.

e can also use would prefer + person + to-infinitive with the same meaning.prefer you not to mention this to anyone.

_ se it's time + unreal past to express what we think we ought to do.J shoes are wearing out. tt's time (that) I bought same new ones.5 already 8.00. I think it's time (that) we /eft.

e also often say tt's time we were going .

. , as though

eal comparisons with as it, as though use look; seem, appear etc with present or future meaning.He /ooks as if he wants to leave. (real)t seems as though City are going to win. (real)

It doesn't /ook as if /'1/ever repay my debts. (real)

Unreal comparisons with as if and as though use was / were to refer to the present if the comparisonseems unreal or imaginary.She acts as if she was / were queen! (unreal - she isn't)

Underline the correct form.

a Parents who also work often wish they have / had more time to spend with their children.b o doubt the prime minister now wishes he listened / had listened to what other people were

saying before he made his decision.c Local councillors say they wish more people could / would let them know what they think

about the new anti-smoking laws.d Many people wish that fast-food companies would stop / had stopped targeting children with

advertising.e Local residents generaUy wish that tourists didn't leave / hadn't left so much litter behind in

the town.f Ihave had nothing but trouble with this computer, and Inow wish that Ididn't buy / had not

bought it.g When we grow older, with hindsight we all wish that we spent / had spent our time at school

more profitably.h We wish we knew / would know how to solve the problem of van dalism, but so far we haven't

come up with a perfect solution.Doctors say they wish that more people pa id / had pa id attention to the amount of salt theyconsume.Ihope / wis h Icould believe what politicians say, but I'm afraid Ican't.

2 Choose the correct option, A, Bor C, to complete the sentences about the generation gap.

a It's time that older peoplei.C listening to what younger people say.b Same older people treat teenagers as if they all dangerous criminals.c Same older people wish there HHH more police officers on the street, and blame all bad

behaviour on the young.d Perhaps it's time that young people more responsibly towards other people.e Generally speaking, young people spend their time with other young people.f Many older people the world to be just the same as it was when they were young.gOlder people also wish that young people more politely.h Some people think that 16-year-olds were given the vote.

Many young people, however, have no faith in politics, and just wish the worlddifferent.Some of them if everyone just left them alone and stopped asking them for theiropinions.

a A would start B start C startedb Awere B would Cpreferc A were B had been C ared A acted B would act C act

e Awish B would rather C hopef A rather B would prefer C as thoughg A had behaved B didn't behave C would behaveh A as if B it's time C they wouldn 't prefer

Ais B had been C wereA would rather B as though C would prefer it

· e a new sentence with the same meaning, beginning as shown.

It seems that mare and more young people will go into higher education in future.It seems as ....i-f./\t9r~.g~cł/\t9C~./:l9.l:lt\q ..P?()pl~ ..lAJillq9..jt\.±() ...~iqh?r.?cI~~q±i()t.tjt.t.±~~:f~±~Ce-·_ Iost parents want their children to study a useful subject leading to a good job.

_ Iost parents would rather .. .

tudents, however, usually want their parents to let them make their own choices.

Students, however, usually wish . . .

Later on, though, some students regret not having chosen their courses more carefully.

Later on, though, same students wish .

.niversity advisers don 't usually want students to choose a subject simply because they think

zhey are good at it.

.niversity advisers usually prefer students .. . .

The usual advice is: 'Think about what kind of wark you want to do in the futurę.'

The usual advice is: IIf I. ...... .

_ Some students seem fram their behaviour to be only interested in having a good time.

Some students behave as.. .. .

'hen they leave university, many students regret not having worked harder.

, 'hen they leave university, many students wish ..

They also think they will never repay their student loans.

It also seems to them as ..

Universities should now pay more attention to students' financial prablems.

It's .. . .

Neighbours and noiseDo you ever wish that your neighbours a lA!o~lcł tum down their

music? Perhaps you're trying to sleep and you wish that the people

next-door b not holding an all-night barbecue party

in their garden. Or do you feel it is ci... . you moved to an

uninhabited island? Don't worry - you are just another victim of noise

pollution. Of course, most people would prefer d if carse no noise at all, neighbours f as quiet as

mice, and nob2-dy g about the streets in cars with open

windows and high-powered sound systems. You may even wish you

h stop chrldren from playing in the street, or planes

from passing overhead. But in the end, ifl i you l jjust get used to it. Close the

windows, buy some earplugs, laugh and tum up your own stereo. Just act k if the noise

I simply not there! Who knows, perhaps it will go away!

4 Complete the text using one word in each gap.

11 A: Paul has bought Tania a present.B: Yes, but we'd better (not/mention) it. It

might be ci surprise.12 A: Did you enjoy the party last night?

B: Yes, but I would rather we (stay) alittlelonger.

13 A: Shall we spend the evening together?B: Well, actually,.I'd prefer (spend) some

time alone.14 A: That meal was terrible. I'd rather (eat) at

home.B: It was very expensive, too.

15 A: lt's the company's office party tomorrow.B: Yes. To be honest, I'd rather ""'"'''''''''' (not/go).

The past simple can be used to refer to the present(unreal present) when we talk about imaginary, unrealor improbable situations which are contrary to facts inthe present.The past perlect can be used to refer to imaginary,unreal or improbable situations which are contrary tofacts in the past (unreal past).

The past simple is used with:

• Type 2 Conditionalse.g. If he had the money, he would buy a new car.

• suppose/supposinge.g. Suppose/Supposing he stood you up,

what would you do?• wish/if only

e.q. I wish/lf only I had a better job.• would rather (present)

e.g. I'd rather Nick drove me to the station.• as if/as though

e.g. Mary talks as if/as though she knew everything.• it's (about/high) time

e.g. /t's (about/high) time you went to bed.

The past perfect is used with:

• Type 3 Conditionalse.g. If she hadn't fallen down the stairs, she woutdn't

have broken her arm.• suppose/supposing

e.g. Suppose/Supposing you had been invited, wouldyou have gone?

• wish/if onlye.g. I wish/lf only I hadn't argued with him.

• would rather (past)e.g. I'd rather you had kept it a secret.

• as if/as thoughe.g. He had never been abroad, but he spoke about

New Yorkas if/as though he had been there manytimes.

20 Underline the correct tense.

1 I'd rather you did/had done your homework beforego out.

2 Supposing you had heard/had been heard telling lJ1

what would have happened?3 He acted as if he owns/owned the house.4 I wish Iwent/had gone to the library yesterday.5 I would have made a cake if I know/had known

we re coming.6 lt's about time we employed/had employed s

new staff.7 If she had won/won the competition, she would h

had a party.8 I'd rather you didn't interrupt/hadn't interrupted

when I'm talking.9 Suppose you saw/had seen a crime being commi

what would you do?10 If only you tOld/had told me, I would have underst11 He would have sent a card if he realised/had reali

it was your birthday.12 If you met/had met John now, you wouldn't recog

him.1311's high time you leamt/had leamt how to drive.14 I'd rather you hadn't misbehaved/didn't misbehave

the party last night.15 They spoke as if they knew/had known each other

years.

1 Would you rather ...come ... (come) shopping withor stay at home?

2 If only I (not/confide) innow everybody knows my problems.

3 Amy says she would rather (organ'the event herself.

4 I'd rather you (get) a full-time job ta part-time job.

5 Supposing I invited you to a party, .(you/accept)?

6 I wish I (ask) my parents for soadvice before I made up my mind.

7 Suppose you v. (meet) a film swhat would you say?

8 She didn't understand the question, but she lookecthough she , (understan

9 Liz studied Art at university, but she says she wrather (study) Hist

10 I wish Alan (not/rnove) away, asmiss him a lot.

11. It seemed as if she (forget) abthe meeting.

12 If you hadn't left early, you (meet) Ti

IN OTHER WORDS

Study these examples. The second sentenceas a similar meaning to the first sentence.

I don 't think it's a good idea to lie to your parents aboutwhat happened.were If I were you, I wouldn't lie to my parents

about what happened.2 If you sit next to the fireplace, you'lI get too hot.

else Don't sit next to thefireplace or else you'lIget too hot.

3 It rained heavily all day, so they didn't go out.for But for the heavy rain, they would have

gone out.4 Ifyou don't act quickly, you may find yourself in trouble.

unless You may find yourself in trouble unlessyou act quickly.

5 Sam ran out of time; that's why he didn't go shopping.would If Sam hadn't run out of time, he would

have gone shopping.6 If Helen gets a grant, she will be able to continue her

studies.provided Helen will be able to continue her

studies provided she gets'a grant.7 Tony wants to buy a new car, but he hasn't got

enough money.wishes Tony wishes he had enough money to

buy a new car.a Jack would prefer to learn Italian rather than learn

German.rather Jack would rather learn Italian than

German.9 Mary regrets not studying hard for her exams.

wishes Mary wishes she had studied hard for herexams.

10 You should join a gym.better You had better join a gym.

11 Why don't you make an effort to improve your life?would Iwish you would make an effort to improve

your life.1211's a pity I missed your graduation.

wish I wish I hadn't rnlssed your graduaticin.

Complete each sentence wit h two to fivewords, including the word in bold.

1 You will be late for school unless you leave now.if You will be late for school ...if you don't:

teev»... nowo2 If you touch the iron, you will burn your fingers.

else Don't touch the iron, .burn your fingers.

3 I don't think it's a good idea to buy that jacket.were If , I wouldn't buy that jacket.

4 I want to have a party, but my fiat isn't big enough.wlsh I .

big enough for me to have a party.5 You shouldn't go out tonight; you have to go to school

tomorrow.better You out

tonight; you have to go to school tomorrow.6 John would prefer to eat pizza rather than chips.

rather John pizza than chips.7 Jane regrets spending all that money on new clothes.

wishes Jane .all that money on new clothes.

8 lt's a pity I didn't make it to your wedding.wish I it to your wedding.

9 Colin wishes he hadn't missed the bus; now he is latefor work.missed If Colin the bus,

he wouldn't be late for work.10 If the weather gets better, we'lI go on a sailing trip

tomorrow.provided We'lI go on a sailing trip, .

......: better tomorrow.11 You should write a letter to your pen-friend.

better You ..~ to your pen-friend.12 Samanthawants to be a model, but she isn't tall enough.

wishes Samantha .to be a model.

13 Why don't you wipe your feet when you come backfrom the park?would I your feet

when you come back from the park.14 If you don't stop being naughty, I will tell the

headmaster.else Stop being naughty, .

the headmaster.15 Sam would prefer to go out rather than stay at home.

rather Sam _ .than stay at home.

1611's a pity I didn't go to that party.wish I .

that party.17 I didn't know your address; that's why I didn't send you

a postcard. •would If I had known your address, I .

................, you a postcard.18 He wouldn't have finished his report if you hadn't

helped him.for But , he wouldn't

have finished h'is report.19 If you exceed the speed limit, you'lI have to pay a fine.

else Don't exceed the speed limit, ... have to pay a fine.

20 If you don't practise daily, you will never learn to playthe piano.unless You will never learn to play the piano .

............................................................. daily.