UNREAL USES OF THE PAST TENSES

1. Wish
Its a difficult problem. I wish I knew the answer to it!
2. If only
If only I knew the answer!
3. Id rather
Id rather you left your dog outside.
4. Its (high) time
Its time you found a job.
1. Wish
RULE 1
To say you are sorry (=you regret) a present situation: WISH + PAST SIMPLE
Ive got a bad job. - I wish I had a good job.
I dont understand French. - I wish I understood French.
RULE 2
To say you are sorry (=you regret) a past action or situation: WISH + PAST PERFECT
She didnt give me her phone number. - I wish she had given me her phone number.
Im sorry that I said that. - I wish I hadnt said that.
RULE 3
To say you want another person to do (or not to do) something, often because youre annoyed:
WISH + PERSON + WOULD
Hes late. I want him to come now! - I wish he would come soon.
Youre playing your music too loud. Its annoying me. - I wish you wouldnt play your music
so loudly.

RULE 2: You regret a past action or situation.

RULE 1: You regret a present situation.

RULE 3: You want another person to do or not to do

something often because you are annoyed

2. IF ONLY
You can also use If only instead of wish with the past simple and past perfect.
If only I knew the answer!
If only you hadnt forgotten the map, wed be there by now.
If only is more emphatic than wish.
When we want to talk about things we want to happen or stop happening because they annoy us,
we use wish or If only + person/thing + would + infinitive, e.g.

I wish the bus would come!

If only he wouldnt keep whistling when Im working!

3. WOULD RATHER
We use would rather + subject + past tense to express a preference.
Id rather you left your dog outside Im allergic to animals.
Are you sure this is a good time to talk? Would you rather I called back later?
We can also use would rather + infinitive without to when there is no change of subject, e.g.
Id rather not talk about it.
However, we cannot use this structure when the subject changes after would rather, e.g.
Id rather you didnt talk about it.

4. ITS (HIGH) TIME

We use the past simple after Its time + subject to say that something has to be done now or in
the near future. We sometimes use high before time for emphasis.
Dont you think its time you found a job? Its six months since you finished university!
Its (high) time the government did something about unemployment.