8 Gx e er GRAMMAR a el e a Unreal time and subjunctives It’s time © ies time, its high time These are followed by the past simple or continuous, though the time referred to is unreal, See Grammar 7. Its time we left. Its high time something was done about this! Wishes © Present / future time ‘Notice the past verb forms atter wish, ‘These are wishes where you want to change a present / future state. I wish I had a motorbike. (I don't have one now.) I wish I was going on holiday with you next week. (1 am not going.) © Would Would is used when the speaker wants somebody or something else to change. I wish he would change his mind and marry Jane. wish it would stop raining. ‘The use with would is often used to describe an annoying habit, wish you wouldn't make such a mess. © Past ume As with present wishes, the verb form after wish is one stage further back in the past. “These are wishes referring to a past event, which cannot be changed. 1 wish I hadi’t eaten so much. ‘This use of wish is similar to the use of if only to express regrets. See Grammar 7. © Hope Wishes about simple future events are expressed with hope + present simple. ‘Sometimes a future form can be used. Thope it doesn't rain tomorrow. Thope Jim comes / will come to the party tonight. I'd rather /I'd prefer (followed by a clause) © i rather is followed by past verb forms in the same way as wishes about the present, It expresses preference about actions, Td rather you didn't smoke in here. Both [id rather and [2d sooner are used with infinitive without fo when comparing nouns or phrases. Ta rather be a sailor than a soldier: (present) Td rather have lived in Ancient Greece than Ancient Rome. (past)GRAMMAR 8 UNREAL TIME AND SUBJUNCTIVES © id prefer is used with it + past verb form to express preference about actions. 1d prefer it if you didn’t smoke. Tid prefer is also used with you / him / her, etc + infinitive with fo to show what we ‘would like a person to do, We can add rather than + infinitive without to as comparison. Ti prefer you to sit in your seat (rather than sit on the flor). Ta prefer you not to sit on the floor. Td profer + noun can be used ta show which thing we would like to have Ta prefer tea to coffee. Asif. as though @ 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. (You are having second thoughts.) He acts as if he were in charge. (Unreal. He isn't in charge.) [feel as if an express train had hit me. (Unreal. It didn’t hit me.) Note however, that the more colloquial like does not require this verb form change. This use is not considered acceptable, however, in formal or written English. Compare: Yon lank like you've just seen a ghost (informal J collegial) You look as if you'd just seen a ghost. Suppose and imagine © Understood outcomes The outcome part of these sentences is often understood but not stated. Suppose someone told you that I was a spy! Imagine we'd never met! (We have met.) If the event referred to isa real possibility, a present verb form is possible. Suppose it starts raining, what'll we do? Formal subjunctives © Insisting, demanding, ete ‘After verbs such as demand, insist, suggest, require, which imply obligation, the subjunctive may be used in formal style. The subjunctive is the same verb form as the infinitive; there is no third person -s or past form. ‘They demanded that he leave at once. The school Principal suggested that he be awarded a scholarship. © Less formal usage Less formally, should can be used, and colloquially no verb form change is made. ‘They demanded that he should leave. They demanded that he left. (informal) Formulaic subjunctives ‘These are fixed expressions all using the subjunctive. Typical expressions are: Heaven help us! Be that as it may Come what may ..LANGUAGE PRACTICE FOR ADVANCED 1. Underline the correct word to complete each sentence. 1. T hope / wish Tl see you again soon. Thope / wish the weather improves soon, hope / wish I knew the answer. hope / wish you didn't have to go. T hope / wish you'd stop shouting so much I hope / wish nothing goes wrong. I hope / wish it would stop raining T hope / wish you can come to my party. T hope / wish you dont 10. L hope / wish we could meet next week Naueun ce mind, 2 Complete each sentence with a word or phrase. 1 Tvish you ..nasawle ati... making s0 much noise late at night! 2 Ti rather the children .. on the television without permission. 3. Suppose half the money I owe you. Would that satisfy you? 4 Thope {et into trouble on my account. What do you think they'll say? 5. Thisisan awful hotel. I wish we -to the Grand instead 6 We. you contact head office in advance. 7 I think its high time we locking all the windows at night 8 Would you rather I lunch, if you feel tired? 9 Iwish my car as fast as yours. 101d prefer you smoke in here, if you don’t mind. 563 Complete ak Oe GRAMMAR 8 UNREAL TIME AND SUBJUNCTIVES ch sentence with the best form of the verb in brackets. Td rather you (not / watch) .déas teh... television while 'm reading. It igh time you (start) nn working seriously. Twish I (spend) .nusmnnmnanne More time swimming last summer, Vicky is bossy. She acts as if she (own) the place. wish you (not / keep). ‘coming late to class. Suppose a complete stranger (leave) you alot of money in their will! I wish I (go) to your party after all. Ta rather you . next to Susan, please. ‘The government demanded that the ambassador (be) .. ‘You ave lucky going to aly. I wish I (go) 4 Complete each sentence with one word. Seevausun i time you learnt to look after yourself! try listening to me, just for once! I .~ Father not go by train, if possible. that as it may, it doesn't alter the seriousness of the situation. wish Carol «be here to see you all. ‘We both wish you staying longer. You v8 if you had played in the match instead of watching it! they offered you the job of managing director! Treally wish we married. 1 you didn't mind my phoning so late. 5 Correct the error(s) in each sentence. wish I bought that old house... Td rather you don't eat all the bread. Ws time Igo. wish Town @ motorbike, cen I wish we are not leaving in the morning. Sue would rather reading than watching television. Come what comes, I'll be on your side. Thope it would stop raining Td prefer if you didnt Wait. nnn. wish I didn't listen to you before.LANGUAGE PRACTICE FOR ADVANCED 6 Complete the second sentence so that it has a lar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. 1 Do you ever regret not going to university? WISH Do you ever .wish you. nad gone, to university? 2. I should really be going home now. TIME Its 3. TW rather not go by plane. PREFER ra i g0 by plane. 4 Jack doesn’t know all the answers, though he pretends to. ACTS Jack. .all the answers. 3 Tdlove to be able to go with you to the opera. WISH 1 ge with you to the opera 6 I wish I hadn't sold that old painting. PITY Its . “ that old painting. 7 Taather you didi stay long atthe party BETTER It - stay long at the party. The snngensert ol niet fn yome dare ts tthe eset INSISTED ‘The management .. .- dark suits to the meeting. 9 I've had enough of your constant complaining! WISH 1 ... complaining all the time! 10 ilove tobe siting oer beach in Tuckey et oo WISH 1GRAMMAR 8 UNREAL TIME AND SUBJUNCTIVES 7 Complete the second sentence so that the meaning is similar to the first sentence. 1. Lwish you were a bit tidier. I wish you would .Put. your things aways. 2 I wish you were more intereste wish you would .. 3 I wish I spoke more languages. Iwish I could .. 4 Iwish [had enough money to buy a car. I wish L could 5 wish they had more chess books in the Library. I wich the library would. 6 Titre ab fb doap In th bao. | wish the cleaners would 7 just wish my partner was a 1 just wish my partner would .. your school work. 8 Complete the text, using one word in each gap. Contractions (e.g. don’t) count as ‘one word. Dear Tom, Well, this time next week you'll be somewhere in Europe. You're s0 lucky. I'd love to (1) eelfseene able t0 go off around the world. | often Wish I (2) ...sesne travelled more when I was younger. | really hope you (3) . - yourself, but you will be careful, won't you? You're only 18 after all. Do be careful with your money too. And I'd rather you (4) ‘spend too many nights in your tent alone. It's so dangerous. | suggest you only (5) sw in your tent on a proper campsite. | wish you 6 going quite so soon. It's a pity you (7)... stay until after Dad's 50th birthday. But never mind. | wish Dad had (8) sn. Here to Se@ YOU off, but he had some really important business that day. Suppose we (9) You 8 some rice seaside place i June? Just thought. Anyway, reverb, you ae into any trouble, we're only a phone call away, and come what (10) Well always be there for you. Love, Mum D see aiso Grammar 7: Conditionals Consolidation 2: Units 5-8 Grammar 11: Inversion ”