Unreal Tenses and Subjunctives

UNREAL TENSES AND SUBJUNCTIVES
WISHES wish + past simple/ past continuous This structure is used when we want to say that we would like something to be different in the present. e.g. I wish I had a car. (I dont have one now.) I wish you werent leaving. (You are leaving.) I wish I was going on holiday with you. (I am not going.) wish + past perfect This structure is used to express regret that something happened or did not happen in the past. e.g. I wish I hadnt eaten so much last night.(I ate too much.) wish + would/ could This structure is used: o for a polite imperative; o to express our desire for change in a situation or someones behavior. e.g. I wish you would leave. (would here means I decided to) I wish I could come on holiday with you next year. (I cant come.) I wish we could have been together. (We werent together.) I wish you wouldnt make such a mess. (would is often used to describe an annoying habit)
IF ONLY If only is used to add emphasis on hypothetical situations or to add the sense of regret (in past events). e.g. If only I had enough time! (I dont have enough time) If only I hadnt drunk too much! (I drank too much) HOPE hope + present or future tense This structure is used to expresses simple future events. e.g. I hope it doesnt rain tomorrow. I hope he will stop talking soon!
ITS TIME/ ITS HIGH TIME/ ITS ABOUT TIME Its time + past simple/ past continuous e.g. Its time we left. Its high time I was/were going. Its time + infinitive e.g. Its time to start work. (As a simple statement of fact.) Its time you started work! (You are being lazy and not working.)
HAD BETTER had better + bare infinitive This structure is used to: o give advice or to say what the best thing to do in a particular situation is. e.g. You had better book tour flight early. I had better not take out a loan; I wont be able to pay it back. Had better is more emphatic than should/ ought to, but it is not as emphatic as must. e.g. You must see a lawyer. (strong advice) You had better see a lawyer. (less emphatic than must) You should/ ought to see a lawyer. (less emphatic than had better)
WOULD RATHER/ WOULD SOONER When the subject of would rather/ sooner is also the subject of the following verb, we use the following construction: would rather + present bare infinitive (for future) e.g. Id rather do my shopping tomorrow. would rather + perfect bare infinitive (for past) e.g. Id rather not have gone to the dinner party last night. would rather + bare infinitive + than (+ bare infinitive) e.g. Id rather watch a comedy than (watch) a thriller. When the subject of would rather is different from the subject of the following verb, we use the following constructions: would rather + past tense (for present or future) e.g. Id rather Kate stayed with us tonight. would rather + past perfect (for past) e.g. Id rather Sam hadnt taken his fathers car yesterday. (WOULD) PREFER prefer + ing form + to + ing form (for general preference) e.g. I prefer playing tennis to playing squash. prefer + full infinitive + rather than + bare infinitive (for general preference) e.g. I prefer to eat fish rather than (eat)meat. prefer + noun + to + noun (for general preference) e.g. I prefer basketball to football. would prefer + full infinitive + rather than + bare infinitive (for specific preference) e.g. Id prefer to walk home rather than take bus. Id prefer to have juice rather than (have) Coke.
AS IF/ AS THOUGH When the situation is true we use the following construction: present tense + as if + present tense (future likely situation) e.g. It looks as if it is going to rain. It looks as if it is raining. present tense + as if + present perfect (present likely situation) e.g. He looks as if he hasnt slept enough. past tense + as if + past perfect (past likely situation) e.g. He looked as if he hadnt slept enough. When the situation is unreal we use the following construction: present tense + as if + past simple (present unlikely situation) e.g. He acts as if he was/ were a boss. (but he isnt) present tense + as if + past perfect (past unlikely situation) e.g. You look as if you had seen a ghost. (but he/ she didnt) SUPPOSE/ IMAGINE likely situation e.g. Imagine it rains lather, what will you do? unlikely situation e.g. Imagine we won a lot of money, what would we do? Supposing we had never met. Suppose someone told you I was a spy!
IF/ WHETHER/ WHATEVER e.g. If/ Whether he (should) agree/agrees or not, we are going to have to go ahead. Whatever his reasons be/are, they are insufficient to excuse him.
FORMAL SUBJUNCTIVES After verbs such as demand, insist, suggest, require, request, order recommend, propose, think which involve an implied obligation, the subjunctive can be used in formal style. This has only the infinitive form. e.g. I suggest that you should study harder. (informal) I suggest you study harder. (formal) The police insisted that the car should be removed.(informal) The police insisted the car be removed. (formal) They demand that he should study harder. (informal) They demand he study/ studies hard. (formal) After expressions such as it is advisable/necessary/essential/important/desirable/preferable/ urgent that e.g. It is urgent that he should do it immediately. (informal) It is urgent he do it immediately. (formal) FORMALIC SUBJUNCTIVES God save the Queen! Heaven help us! Heaven forbid! Curse this fog! So be it. Be that as it may Suffice it to say Far it be from me Come what may

Unreal Tenses and Subjunctives

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