Unreal time

Question 1

When do we use unreal past?

Answer 1

1. When we talk about hypothetical and unlikely current, future or general conditons.

What if we decided to run away and never come back.

2. When we talk about hypothetical past conditions.

If I had known I, I _would have take_n some dollars with me.

Question 2

Unreal future

If you …. (come) to the party next Friday you might get to meet Sam.

Answer 2

If you came to the party next Friday you might get to meet Sam.

Question 3

Unreal future

If I … (have) the time I …. …. (take) you out for dinner.

Answer 3

If I had the time I would take you out for dinner.

(but I don’t have time now)

Question 4

Impossible wish

If only … (be) taller.

Answer 4

If only I were taller.

Question 5

Impossible wish

If only Sam …. (finish) highschool.

Answer 5

Impossible wish

If only Sam had finished highschool.

(But he didn’t)

Question 6

Ureal wishes

I wish we …. (go/lose) our job.

But we are going to lose our job in the future

Answer 6

Ureal wishes

I wish we weren’t going to lose our job.

But we are going to lose our job in the future

Question 7

Impossible wish

I wish she …. (spend) more time in the office.

(But she doesn’t)

Answer 7

Impossible wish

I wish she would spend more time in the office.

(But she doesn’t)

Question 8

A wish of a situation to be different

I wish they …. offer me a payrise.

Answer 8

A wish of a situation to be different

I wish they would offer me a payrise.

Question 9

If only they ….. offer me a journey to Africa.

Answer 9

If only they would offer me a journey to Africa.

Question 10

Wishes for current, general or futuer preference

Jan …. we bought a house than carried on renting.

Answer 10

Wishes for current, general or futuer preference

Jan would rather we bought a house than carried on renting.

Question 11

Which words do we use for unreal preferences?

Jan …… we bought a house than carried on renting.

…. you ….. I was begging in the streets?

Answer 11

would rather / would sooner

Jan would sooner we bought a house than carried on renting.

Would you rather I was begging in the streets?

Question 12

I …. …. we …. to an Italian restauranat. I don’t like Sushi.

Answer 12

I would rather we went to an Italian restauranat. I don’t like Sushi.

(Preference)

Question 13

I don’t want you here, I …. …. you …. (leave).

Answer 13

I don’t want you here, I would sooner you left.

Question 14

What words we use to say that something should be done now or in the immediate future?

…. I got a mortage.

Answer 14

It’s (high/about) time

It’s high time I got a mortage.

Question 15

(Suggestion)

It … … you … to bed.

Answer 15

It’s time you went to bed.

Question 16

(Suggestion)

It … … Dave … (get) a job.

Answer 16

It is time Dave got a job.

Question 17

I wouldn’t go there if (be) you.

Answer 17

I wouldn’t go there if I were you.

Question 18

It’s time we …. (try) to do something about this situation.

Answer 18

It’s time we tried to do something about this situation.

Question 19

I’d rather you…. … (continue/take) your medication for a few days. Let’s say until next Monday.

Answer 19

I’d rather you continued taking your medication for a few days. Let’s say until next Monday.

Question 20

If only we…. (knew) the sooner. We could have prevented the situation.

Answer 20

If only we had known sooner. We could have prevented the situation.

Question 21

Would you rather I …. (stay) at your place next weekend?

Answer 21

Would you rather I stayed at your place next weekend?

Question 22

I’d rather you …. (make) that comment last night. You hurt me.

Answer 22

I’d rather you hadn’t made that comment last night. You hurt me.

Question 23

I wish you … (left) your stuff everywhere all the time. I’m tired of tidying up after you.

Answer 23

I wish you wouldn’t leave your stuff everywhere all the time. I’m tired of tidying up after you.

Question 24

It’s time you …. (think) seriously about what you want to do with your life.

Answer 24

It’s time you thought seriously about what you want to do with your life.

Question 25

I didn't take my boots, but I wish I \_\_\_\_\_\_\_.

Answer 25

I didn't take my boots, but I wish I **would have.**

Question 26

Do you want to take the bus or would you rather _______ the bus? (2 possibilities)

Answer 26

Do you want to take the bus or would you rather **to take / we took** the car?

Question 27

If there are any cuts, cracks or bulges in your tyre, it's time you _______ them. (replace)

Answer 27

If there are any cuts, cracks or bulges in your tyre, it's time you **had replaced** them.

Question 28

We should have checked the hotel reviews before we made the reservation. (wish) I ...... the hotel reviews before we made the reservation.

Answer 28

I wish **we had checked** the hotel reviews before we made the reservation.

Question 29

I would like you to stop calling me. It's annoying. (if only) ..... calling me.

Answer 29

**If only you stopped** calling me.

Question 30

I'd prefer you not to talk about this in public. (rather) ## Footnote ..... about this in public.

Answer 30

**I would rather you didn't talk** about this in public.

Question 31

You are an adult now, and you should start acting like one. (time) You are an adult now, and ..... like one.

Answer 31

You are an adult now, and you should start acting like one. (time) You are an adult now, and **it's time you acted** like one.

Question 32

I would like my son to be as responsible as yours. (wish) I.... as responsible as yours.

Answer 32

I **wish my son were** as responsible as yours.

Question 33

I would have preferred you to talk to me before saying anything. (rather) I'd ..... to me before saying anything.

Answer 33

I'd **rather you had talked** to me before saying anything.

Question 34

Let's pretend this: you are invisible for one day. What would you do? (suppose) ..... invisible for one day. What would you do?

Answer 34

**Supposing/Suppose** you were invisible for one day. What would you do?

Question 35

You should have invited Terry to the party. He's a real laugh. (if only) ...... Terry to the party. He's a real laugh.

Answer 35

**If only you had invited** Terry to the party. He's a real laugh.

Question 36

You really need to take a break. You well deserve it. (time) ..... a break . You well deserve it.

Answer 36

**It's time you took** a break . You well deserve it.

Question 37

I'd like him to talk to me about his problems. I'm tired of having to guess what's wrong with him. (wish) ..... me about his problems. I'm tired of having to guess what's wrong with him.

Answer 37

**I wish he would talk to** me about his problems. I'm tired of having to guess what's wrong with him.