Explanation
Exercises
Unreal Time

Lesson focus

Wish, if only, would rather, it is time, suppose, imagine and as if/as though for unreal or counterfactual meaning

Advanced aim: Use past forms for psychological and modal distance, distinguishing regret, preference, counterfactuality and apparent unreality.

Wish about present

Use wish + past simple for a present situation the speaker wants to be different.

  • Example: I wish the office were closer to the station.
  • In another context: I wish the satellite branch were closer to the station.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Wish about past

Use wish + past perfect for regret about a past situation.

  • Example: She wishes she had asked more questions before signing.
  • In another context: Regional example: She wishes she had asked more questions before signing.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Wish + would

Use wish + would for desired change in another person's behaviour or an annoying situation.

  • Example: I wish people would stop forwarding confidential emails.
  • In another context: Separate scenario: I wish people would stop forwarding confidential emails.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

If only present

If only + past form expresses a strong wish about the present.

  • Example: If only the process were less complicated.
  • In another context: Follow-up case: If only the process were less complicated.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

If only past

If only + past perfect expresses strong regret about a past event.

  • Example: If only we had backed up the files before the server failed.
  • In another context: If only we had backed up the case documents before the server failed.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Would rather present/future

Use would rather + subject + past simple when you want someone else to do something now or later.

  • Example: I'd rather you discussed the issue with me first.
  • In another context: I'd rather you discussed the reporting gap with me first.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Would rather past

Use would rather + subject + past perfect for a preference about an earlier action.

  • Example: I'd rather you hadn't mentioned the merger at dinner.
  • In another context: Separate scenario: I'd rather you hadn't mentioned the merger at dinner.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

It's time

Use It's time + subject + past form to say that something should happen now.

  • Example: It's time we reconsidered the way the service is funded.
  • In another context: Follow-up case: It's time we reconsidered the way the service is funded.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Suppose/Imagine

Suppose/Imagine can introduce hypothetical scenarios. Past forms often create greater remoteness or unreality, while present forms can introduce more open or realistic possibilities.

  • Example: Suppose the main investor withdrew tomorrow; what would we do?
  • In another context: Alternative case study: Suppose the main investor withdrew tomorrow; what would we do?

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

As if / as though

As if/as though can take past forms to signal distance or unreality. Present forms are also possible when the speaker treats the comparison as plausible or true.

  • Example: He talks as though he owned the company, but he doesn't.
  • In another context: He talks as though he owned the publishing group, but he doesn't.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

C1 takeaway

Do not ask only “Which form is grammatically possible?” Ask what the speaker is presenting as background or foreground, completed or ongoing, certain or tentative, generic or specific, neutral or emphatic. Advanced grammar is the control of those choices.

Exercises:
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Wish, if only, would rather, it is time, suppose, imagine and as if/as though for unreal or counterfactual meaning

1
Complete the wish about the present. Both common modern forms are accepted; were is more formal/traditional: I wish the temporary office closer to the metro. (BE)
2
Complete the sentence so that the speaker regrets an earlier omission: Leah wishes she for a written guarantee before signing the lease. (ask)
3
Complete the wish so that it expresses frustration about another person's repeated behaviour and a desire for change: I wish the project leads changing the reporting format every week. (stop)
4
Complete the strong present wish. Both forms are accepted; were is the more formal irrealis form: If only the approval process less fragmented. (BE)
5
Complete the sentence so that the speaker strongly regrets a past action: If only we a local copy before the cloud account was closed. (retain)
6
Complete the preference about what another person should do now or later: I'd rather you legal before replying to the complaint. (consult)
7
Complete the sentence so that the preference concerns an action that already happened: I'd rather you the acquisition figure before the board announcement. (disclose)
8
Complete the sentence so that the past form refers to action that is overdue now, not to past time: It's time we the supplier-risk policy. (review)
9
Complete the hypothetical scenario so that it sounds more remote than an open present-form possibility: Imagine the principal donor tomorrow; how would we replace the funding? (withdraw)
10
Complete the comparison so that the speaker explicitly distances it from reality: She speaks as though she the whole consultancy, although she joined last month. (own)

Wish, if only, would rather, it is time, suppose, imagine and as if/as though for unreal or counterfactual meaning

1
Choose the form preferred in formal written English for this present unreal wish: I wish the regional office nearer the courthouse.
2
The decision was made last month, and the speaker regrets it now. Choose the correct time relationship: She wishes she the termination clause more carefully before signing.
3
The speaker is complaining about a repeated behaviour and wants it to change. Choose the best fit: I wish colleagues copying the entire department into routine emails.
4
Choose the traditional formal irrealis form: If only the evidence more conclusive.
5
The interview is already over and no recording exists. Choose the best form: If only we the witness interview.
6
The submission has not happened yet. Choose the form for a preference about what someone else should do now: I'd rather you the announcement until the audit is complete.
7
The issue was mentioned at yesterday's meeting. Choose the past preference: I'd rather you the allegation before we had verified it.
8
The current policy is out of date. Choose the conventional unreal-time form: It's time we the escalation procedure.
9
The speaker wants to explore a deliberately remote hypothetical future scenario. Choose the best form: Suppose the company its largest customer next quarter; what contingency plan would we use?
10
The following clause makes clear that the comparison is contrary to fact. Choose the best form: He answers every question as if he the confidential details, but he has never seen the file.

Wish, if only, would rather, it is time, suppose, imagine and as if/as though for unreal or counterfactual meaning

1
Which analysis of were is most accurate?I wish the office were closer to the client site.
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2
What time relationship does the highlighted form create?She wishes she had negotiated a longer notice period.
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3
Why is would stop especially natural here?I wish the neighbours would stop blocking the service entrance every morning.
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4
What is the best interpretation of the highlighted past form?If only the approval chain were shorter.
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5
What would change if had saved became saved?If only we had saved the raw footage before the drive failed.
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6
What does the past form signal here?I'd rather you waited until the legal review is complete.
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7
Which paraphrase best preserves the meaning?I'd rather you hadn't forwarded the draft outside the team.
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8
Why is updated not simply past time here?It's time we updated the incident-response plan.
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9
What would most likely change if lost became loses?Suppose the bank lost access to the clearing network tomorrow.
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10
Why is were appropriate here?He issues instructions as though he were the department head, but he isn't.
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