GRAMMR REVIEW 1.

UNREAL TIME AND PAST SUBJUNCTIVES

• Wishes about the present
For wishes about the present we use / wish + the past simple. The time
referred to is an imaginary present.
- I wish I knew the answer to this question. (I do not know the answer.)
- I wish I didn’t have so much work to do. (I do have a lot of work.)

• Wishes about the past

For wishes about the past we use / wish + the past perfect. The time
referred to is past time.
- I wish I had gone to your party last week. (I did not go.)

• Wishes about the future

We can use could to refer to a future event.
Wish - I wish June could meet me next week.
We also use could to refer to something that is generally difficult or
impossible.
- I wish I could drive.
- I wish I could contact him, but I don’t have my mobile phone with me. We
can also use have to to refer to a future event.
- I wish I didn’t have to get up early tomorrow.

• Wishes using would

When we want to complain about a bad habit we use I wish + would.
- I wish Peter wouldn’t chew gum all the time.
We also use / wish + would to refer to something that we would like to
happen.
- I wish the police would do something about these people!

We can replace I wish with If only for emphasis.

- If only I knew the answer to this question! If only I had gone to your party last
If Only
week!
In speech, only is often heavily stressed.

The construction it’s time I/you/we … is followed by a past tense.

- Sorry, but it’s time we went home.
The meaning here is similar to a second conditional.
It’s time
- If we went home, it would be better.
High can be added for extra emphasis.
 - It’s high time you learned to look after yourself!
-It’s time can also be used with the infinitive. The meaning changes
slightly.
- It’s time you started work! (you are being lazy and not working)
- It’s time to start work. (a simple statement of fact)

The construction I’d rather I/you/we … is followed by a past tense.

- I’d rather you didn’t tell John about this.
Would rather/
The meaning here is similar to a second conditional.
sooner/ prefer
- If you didn’t tell John about this, it would be better.

In informal speech we can use suppose or imagine in place of if. The

construction is a normal second conditional.
Suppose/ Imagine
- Suppose you lost your keys. What would you do?
- Imagine you were rich. How would you feel?

Real and unreal

The verb form here depends on whether the situation is true or unreal.
- You look as if you’re having second thoughts.
(True. He is having second thoughts.)
- He acts as if he were in charge. (Unreal. He isn’t in charge.)
As if/ As though
- I feel as if an express train had hit me. (It didn’t hit me.)
Note however, that the more colloquial like does not require this verb form
change. Compare:
You look like you’ve just seen a ghost
You look as if you’d just seen a ghost.

These are fixed expressions all using subjunctive. Typical expressions are:
Formulaic God save the Queen!
Subjunctives Be that as it may …
Come what may …

I. Underline the most suitable verb form in each sentence.

1. I wish Peter doesn’t live/didn’t live/wouldn’t live so far away from the town centre. We’ll have to
take a taxi.
2. I feel rather cold. I wish I brought/had brought my pullover with me.
3. What a pity. I wish we don’t have to/didn’t have to/wouldn’t have to leave.
4. I wish you tell/told/had told me about the test. I haven’t done any revision.
5. I wish the people next door hadn’t made/wouldn’t make/couldn’t make so mud noise. I can’t hear
myself think!
6. Darling, I love you so much! I wish we are/had been/would be/could be together always!
7. I’m sorry I missed your birthday party. I really wish I come/came/had come/would come.
8. I like my new boss but I wish she gave/would give/could give me some more responsibility.
9. Having a lovely time in Brighton. I wish you are/were/had been here.
10. This car was a complete waste of money. I wish I didn’t buy/hadn’t bought it.
II. Put each verb in brackets into a suitable verb form.
1. This train journey seems endless! I wish we (go) ..had gone…. by car.
2. I wish I (have) ….................................... the money to buy some new clothes, but I can’t afford
any at the moment.
3. I wish the government (do) …............................ something about the pollution in the city.
4. I’m getting really soaked! I wish I (not forget) ….............................. my umbrella.
5. I wish you (not do) ….................................... that! It’s a really annoying habit
6. That was a lovely meal, but I wish I (not eat) …................................... so much.
7. I wish I (study) …....................... harder for my exams. I’m not going to pass.
8. I wish you (not leave) …........................ your dirty shoes in your bedroom!
9. I’m afraid I have no idea where Diana has gone. I wish I (know) …......................
10. I really enjoyed our trip to the theatre. I wish we (go) …........................ more often.
11. It’s high time you (start) …............................. working seriously.
12. I wish I (spend) …............................. more time swimming last summer.
13. Helen is bossy. She acts as if she (own) …....................... the place.
14. I wish you (not/keep) ….......................... coming late to class.
15. Suppose a complete stranger (leave) …...................... you a lot of money in their will!
16. I wish I (go) …............................ to your party after all.
17. I’d rather you (sit) …............................ next to Susan, please.
18. You are lucky going to Italy. I wish I (go) …............................. with you.
19. If only I (study) …........................ more when I was at school.
20. It’s time something (do) ….............................. about this problem.
III. Underline the most suitable verb form in each sentence.
1. A cheque is all right, but I’d rather you pay/paid me cash.
2. Imagine you live/lived in New York. How would you feel?
3. If only I have/had/would have a screwdriver with me.
4. If you want to catch the last train, it’s time you leave/left.
5. I’d rather you don’t/didn’t tell anyone about our conversation.
6. I’ve got a terrible headache. If only I didn’t drink/hadn’t drunk that wine.
7. If you don’t mind, I’d sooner you ealized /had ealized /would ealized your violin
somewhere else.
8. It’s high time you learn/learned to look after yourself.
9. Jean thinks that everyone likes her. If only she knows/knew what people say
behind her back!
10. I’d rather we stay/stayed at home this Christmas for a change.
IV. Put each verb in brackets into a suitable verb form.
1. What can we do to get in touch with Robert? If only we (know) …......... knew …....... his
phone number.
2. Come on children! It’s time you (be) …............................ in bed.
3. Actually I’d rather you (not smoke) …................................. in here.
5. Suppose you (see) …........................... a ghost. What would you do?
6. I’m so annoyed about my car accident. If only I (be) …............................ more careful!
7. It’s high time you (start) …........................... working more seriously.
8. I’d rather you (not put) …......................... your coffee on top of my book.
9. I’ve no idea where we are! If only we (have) …............................... a map.
10. Your hair is rather long. Don’t you think it’s time you (have) …........................ a haircut?
11. Visiting museums is interesting, but I’d sooner we (go) …........................... swimming.
V. Complete the letter by writing one word in each space. A contraction (don’t) counts as one
word.
Dear Tom,
Well, this time next week you’ll be somewhere in Europe on a train. I’m sure any mum would
worry! Actually, you’re very lucky. I’d love to (1) …............... able to go off around the world. I
often wish I (2) …................... travelled more when I was younger. I really hope you (3)
…................. yourself, but do be careful, won’t you? You’re only 18 after all. Do take care with
your money, won’t you? And I’d rather you (4) ….................. spend too many nights in your tent
alone. It’s so dangerous. I suggest you only (5) ….................. your tent in a proper camp site. I
wish you (6) …................... going quite so soon. It’s a pity you (7) …................. stay until after
Dad’s 50th birthday. But never mind. I wish Dad (8) ….................... be at the airport to see you
off, but he’s got some really important business that day. Suppose we (9) …................... out to
see you in June?!! … Just a thought. Anyway, just remember, if you get into any trouble, we’re
only a phone call away, and come what (10) …....................... , we’ll always be there for you.
Love, Mum
VI. Look carefully at each line. Some of the lines are correct, and some have a word which
should not be there. Tick each correct line. If a line has a word which should not be there,
write the word in the space.

Losing your memory

Imagine it that one day you woke up and ….......... it …...........
discovered that you had completely lost your …..........√ ….............
memory. How would you have feel exactly? 1. …...........................
I have thought about this recently after I was 2. …...........................
involved in a traffic accident. I woke up in 3. …...........................
hospital, and said to myself ‘It’s the time I 4. …...........................
got up and have went to school!’ I soon ealized 5. …...........................
my mistake. A nurse came in and asked to me 6. …...........................
what my name was. I thought about it for a 7. …...........................
moment and then said, ‘I would wish I knew!’
8. …...........................
Then I tried to get up. ‘I’d rather prefer
9. …...........................
you didn’t do that,’ said the nurse. ‘Don’t worry
10. …...........................
you’ll have it your memory back soon.’
11. …...........................
‘I wish you hadn’t have said that,’ I replied.
12. …...........................
‘Now I am really worried! If I hadn’t looked
13. …...........................
in my wallet, I wouldn’t have been known my
own name!’ Unfortunately my memory soon came 14. …...........................
back, and I ealized I had a maths test the next day! 15. …...........................
VII. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using
the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words,
including the word given.
1. It would be nice to be able to fly a plane. could
-> I wish I ….............could fly…............. a plane.
2. Please don’t eat in the classroom. you
-> I’d rather …............................................................................ classroom.
3. I think we should leave now. we
-> I think it’s …............................................................................ left.
4. What a pity we ate all the food. only
-> If …...................................................................................... all the food.
5. It’s a shame we don’t have a video. wish
-> I …................................................................................................... a video.
6. Don’t shout all the time, it’s so annoying! wouldn’t
-> I ….................................................................................... shout all the time.
7. I don’t want you to buy me a present. sooner
-> I’d ….............................................................. buy me a present.
8. I don’t like being so tall. wish
-> I …........................................................................................................ so tall.
9. We ought to start work now. started
->It’s …...................................................................................................... work.
10. I regret not going to university. had
-> I …................................................................................................ to university.
11. I should really be going home now. time
-> It’s …............................................................................................ home now.
12. I’d rather not go by plane. prefer
-> I’d …................................................................................... go by plane.
13. Jack doesn’t know all the answers, though he pretends to. acts
-> Jack …................................................................................... all the answers.
14. I’d love to be able to go with you to the opera. wish
-> I …........................................................................... go with you to the opera.
15. I wish I hadn’t sold that old painting. pity
-> It’s …................................................................................ that old painting.
16. I’d rather you didn’t stay long at the party. better
-> It …................................................................. stay long at the party.
17 I’ve had enough of your constant complaining! wish
-> I …..................................................................... complaining all the time!
18. I’d love to be sitting on a beach in Turkey right now! wish
-> I …..................................................................... on a beach in Turkey right now!

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