Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
C1 Section 3 : The unreal past - Coggle Diagram
C1 Section 3 : The unreal past
What is the unreal past?
to talk about a hypothetical thing in the present or future and its consequences.
The most common use of the unreal past is in the second and third conditionals.
The second conditional
we consider the event highly unlikely to become real
to talk about a hypothetical thing in
the present or future
and its consequences.
If I were shorter, I would wear high heels!
(I am very unlikely to become a shorter person, so I use the unreal past.)
The third conditional
to talk about a hypothetical different version of something in
the past
and its consequences.
If I had set my alarm, I wouldn't have overslept.
(This is the unreal version, in a more distant past tense.)
Unreal past with certain phrases
use the phrases
would rather
and
would sooner
to talk about our preferences
the second verb is an infinitive form
I would rather
go
home now.
I would sooner
have
a break.
Need to use a clause when the second verb refers to someone who isn't subject
would rather
can use 'that' optionally,
would sooner
doesn't have 'that'
I would rather (that) you left me alone now.
I would sooner you didn't ask me that again today.
Both of these clauses need the unreal past.
Can also use past perfect tense to show that we’re talking about something that didn’t happen.
I'd sooner you hadn't told me. (My preference is that you didn't tell me, but in reality you told me.)
I'd rather you hadn't come. (My preference is that you didn't come, but in reality you came.)
Use phrases
it's time
and
it's high time
to say 'this needs to happen really soon'.
use
it's time
to talk about something general, or to say which person
it's time + to-infinitive
or
it's time + for + noun
.
It's time to go
It's time for dinner
If we want to specify which person should do the action, we use
it's time + (that) + subject + past simple
or
it's time + for + subject + to-infinitive
.
It's time (that) we went home. (We should go home really soon.)
· It's time (that) she let them try by themselves. (She should let them try by themselves soon.)
use
it's high time
to add a sense of urgency.
only use this phrase to specify which person should do the action.
it's high time + (that) + subject + past simple
.
· It's high time (that) we went to the airport!
· It's high time (that) he behaved himself.
The unreal past and
wish
can use
wish
with the past simple when we make wishes about
the present
I wish (that) I had a million dollars now! (I don't have a million dollars, so I use the unreal past to talk about it.)
use past perfect tense with
wish
to talk about wishes about
the past
These types of sentences usually talk about regrets
· I wish (that) I had gone to bed earlier last night! (The real past is 'I didn't go to bed earlier'.)
· I wish (that) I had studied more for that test! (The real past is 'I didn't study more'.)