unreal past tense

wishes about the present

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

I wish I was 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 we
would 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 sameone
o 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 we
uld 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 comparison
seems 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 I have had nothing but trouble with this computer, and I now wish that I didn'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 they
consume.
I hope / wis h I could believe what politicians say, but I'm afraid I can't.

2 Choose the correct option, A, B or 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 more police officers on the street, and blame all bad
HHH

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 world
different.
Some of them if everyone just left them alone and stopped asking them for their
opinions.

a A would start B start C started

b Awere B would Cprefer
c A were B had been C are
d A acted B would act C act
e Awish B would rather C hope
f A rather B would prefer C as though
g A had behaved B didn't behave C would behave
h A as if B it's time C they wouldn 't prefer
Ais B had been C were
A 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 .. . .

4 Complete the text using one word in each gap.

Neighbours and noise

Do 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 cars
e 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!
11 A: Paul has bought Tania a present.
B: Yes, but we'd better (not/mention) it. It 20 Underline the correct tense.
might be ci surprise.
12 A: Did you enjoy the party last night?
1 I'd rather you did/had done your homework before
B: Yes, but I would rather we (stay) alittle
go out.
longer.
13 A: Shall we spend the evening together? 2 Supposing you had heard/had been heard telling lJ1
B: Well, actually,.I'd prefer (spend) some what would have happened?
time alone. 3 He acted as if he owns/owned the house.
14 A: That meal was terrible. I'd rather (eat) at 4 I wish I went/had gone to the library yesterday.
home. 5 I would have made a cake if I know/had known
B: It was very expensive, too. we re coming.
15 A: lt's the company's office party tomorrow. 6 lt's about time we employed/had employed s
B: Yes. To be honest, I'd rather ""'"'''''''''' (not/go). 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 underst
The past simple can be used to refer to the present 11 He would have sent a card if he realised/had reali
(unreal present) when we talk about imaginary, unreal it was your birthday.
or improbable situations which are contrary to facts in 12 If you met/had met John now, you wouldn't recog
the present. him.
The past perlect can be used to refer to imaginary, 1311's high time you leamt/had leamt how to drive.
unreal or improbable situations which are contrary to 14 I'd rather you hadn't misbehaved/didn't misbehave
facts in the past (unreal past). the party last night.
The past simple is used with: 15 They spoke as if they knew/had known each other
years.
• Type 2 Conditionals
e.g. If he had the money, he would buy a new car.
• suppose/supposing
e.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. 1 Would you rather ... come ... (come) shopping with
• would rather (present) or stay at home?
e.g. I'd rather Nick drove me to the station. 2 If only I (not/confide) in
• as if/as though now everybody knows my problems.
e.g. Mary talks as if/as though she knew everything. 3 Amy says she would rather (organ'
• it's (about/high) time the event herself.
e.g. /t's (about/high) time you went to bed. 4 I'd rather you (get) a full-time job t
The past perfect is used with: a part-time job.
5 Supposing I invited you to a party, .
• Type 3 Conditionals
(you/accept)?
e.g. If she hadn't fallen down the stairs, she woutdn't
6 I wish I (ask) my parents for so
have broken her arm.
advice before I made up my mind.
• suppose/supposing
7 Suppose you v. (meet) a film s
e.g. Suppose/Supposing you had been invited, would
what would you say?
you have gone?
8 She didn't understand the question, but she lookec
• wish/if only
e.g. I wish/lf only I hadn't argued with him. though she , (understan
9 Liz studied Art at university, but she says she w
• would rather (past)
e.g. I'd rather you had kept it a secret. rather (study) Hist
10 I wish Alan (not/rnove) away, as
• as if/as though
e.g. He had never been abroad, but he spoke about miss him a lot.
New Yorkas if/as though he had been there many 11. It seemed as if she (forget) ab
times. the meeting.
12 If you hadn't left early, you (meet) Ti
IN OTHER WORDS 4 I want to have a party, but my fiat isn't big enough.
wlsh I .
Study these examples. The second sentence big enough for me to have a party.
as a similar meaning to the first sentence. 5 You shouldn't go out tonight; you have to go to school
tomorrow.
I don 't think it's a good idea to lie to your parents about better You out
what happened. tonight; you have to go to school tomorrow.
were If I were you, I wouldn't lie to my parents 6 John would prefer to eat pizza rather than chips.
about what happened. rather John pizza than chips.
2 If you sit next to the fireplace, you'lI get too hot. 7 Jane regrets spending all that money on new clothes.
else Don't sit next to thefireplace or else you'lI wishes Jane .
get too hot.
all that money on new clothes.
3 It rained heavily all day, so they didn't go out. 8 lt's a pity I didn't make it to your wedding.
for But for the heavy rain, they would have wish I it to your wedding.
gone out.
9 Colin wishes he hadn't missed the bus; now he is late
4 If you don't act quickly, you may find yourself in trouble. for work.
unless You may find yourself in trouble unless missed If Colin the bus,
you act quickly. he wouldn't be late for work.
5 Sam ran out of time; that's why he didn't go shopping. 10 If the weather gets better, we'lI go on a sailing trip
would If Sam hadn't run out of time, he would tomorrow.
have gone shopping. provided We'lI go on a sailing trip, .
6 If Helen gets a grant, she will be able to continue her ......: better tomorrow.
studies. 11 You should write a letter to your pen-friend.
provided Helen will be able to continue her better You ..~ to your pen-friend.
studies provided she gets'a grant. 12 Samantha wants to be a model, but she isn't tall enough.
7 Tony wants to buy a new car, but he hasn't got wishes Samantha .
enough money. to be a model.
wishes Tony wishes he had enough money to 13 Why don't you wipe your feet when you come back
buy a new car.
from the park?
a Jack would prefer to learn Italian rather than learn would I your feet
German. when you come back from the park.
rather Jack would rather learn Italian than 14 If you don't stop being naughty, I will tell the
German. headmaster.
9 Mary regrets not studying hard for her exams. else Stop being naughty, .
wishes Mary wishes she had studied hard for her the headmaster.
exams. 15 Sam would prefer to go out rather than stay at home.
10 You should join a gym. rather Sam _ .
better You had better join a gym. than stay at home.
11 Why don't you make an effort to improve your life? 1611's a pity I didn't go to that party.
would I wish you would make an effort to improve wish I .
your life. that party.
1211's a pity I missed your graduation. 17 I didn't know your address; that's why I didn't send you
wish I wish I hadn't rnlssed your graduaticin. a postcard. •
would If I had known your address, I .
................, you a postcard.
Complete each sentence wit h two to five
18 He wouldn't have finished his report if you hadn't
words, including the word in bold.
helped him.
for But , he wouldn't
1 You will be late for school unless you leave now.
have finished h'is report.
if You will be late for school ...if you don't:
19 If you exceed the speed limit, you'lI have to pay a fine.
teev»... nowo
else Don't exceed the speed limit, .
2 If you touch the iron, you will burn your fingers.
.. have to pay a fine.
else Don't touch the iron, .
20 If you don't practise daily, you will never learn to play
burn your fingers.
the piano.
3 I don't think it's a good idea to buy that jacket.
unless You will never learn to play the piano .
were If , I wouldn't buy that jacket.
............................................................. daily.