Matura Repetytorium Poziom Rozszerzony - Wishes/Unreal Past

If only = ... wish ...

"If only" is used in exactly the same way as "... wish ...", but it is more emphatic or more dramatic.

(2) A: I wish I (see) the film on TV last night. Everyone said it was fantastic. B: Too bad you missed it. It was amazing!

A: I wish I had seen the film on TV last night. Everyone said it was fantastic. B: Too bad you missed it. It was amazing!

Exercise 12

Complete each sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Include the word in BOLD.

Exercise 5

Fill in the gaps with "would rather, "prefer(s)" or "would prefer".

(A2) wish - past

I wish I hadn't eaten all the cake.

(A1) Conditionals Type 3 - unreal in the past

If I had made a list, I wouldn't have forgotten to buy the meat.

"Suppose" followed by a verb in the present tense

Introducing suggestions: Suppose you invite him to dinner? = Why don't you invite him to dinner?

(A5) as if/as though - untrue situation in the past

It looked as if he hadn't had a good night's sleep for days.

(12) You should have finished the test by now. TIME

It's time you finished the test.

(2) Jane doesn't have enough money to go on holiday.

Jane wishes she had enough money to go on holiday.

(4) Jenny ... Dan hadn't told lies about her.

Jenny would rather Dan hadn't told lies about her.

(6) Jillian ... to listen to music rather than watch TV.

Jillian would prefer to listen to music rather than watch TV.

(6) Oh no! Just my luck, now the battery in my laptop is running low. If only I (think) to charge it before I set off.

Oh no! Just my luck, now the battery in my laptop is running low. If only I had thought to charge it before I set off.

Exercise 1

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense.

Exercise 3

Read the speech bubbles and make sentences as in the example.

Exercise 2

Rewrite the sentences to express wishes.

(7) Sarah ... wait for the bus than walk home.

Sarah would rather wait for the bus than walk home.

(D) I would rather = I'd rather = I'd prefer

When the subject of "would rather" is also the subject of the following verb, we use (D1) or (D2).

(1) You were right! I wish I (listen) to you.

You were right! I wish I had listened to you.

(6) Your friend looks tired. You think he should get some rest. What do you say?

You'd better get some rest.

(11) You've got a temperature. I ... you stayed in bed.

You've got a temperature. I would rather you stayed in bed.

wish/if only + past perfect = to express regret about something that happened or didn't happen in the past

życzenia, pragnienia, żale dotyczące przeszłości

wish/if only + past simple/past continuous = to say that we would like something to be different in the present

życzenia, pragnienia, żale dotyczące teraźniejszości

(3) A: Do the boys know their exams start next month? B: Yes, I wish they (spend) more time studying instead of playing video games.

A: Do the boys know their exams start next month? B: Yes, I wish they would spend more time studying instead of playing video games.

(1) A: I wish I (know) you had a spare ticket for the theatre. I would have loved to join you. B: Oh, if only I (tell) you. That would have been great!

A: I wish I had known you had a spare ticket for the theatre. I would have loved to join you. B: Oh, if only I had told you. That would have been great!

(4) A: If only I (read) the instructions properly! B: I know, it wouldn't have taken so long to put the table together!

A: If only I had read the instructions properly! B: I know, it wouldn't have taken so long to put the table together!

(7) Anyway, I'll be back at 10 pm. Could you pick me up from the station. I wish (pay) for a taxi, but I'm broke!

Anyway, I'll be back at 10 pm. Could you pick me up from the station. I wish could pay for a taxi, but I'm broke!

Exercise 7

Complete the sentences, as in the example.

(2) Do you .. kiting to mountain biking?

Do you prefer kiting to mountain biking?

(4) I need to finish some work for tomorrow, but I can't concentrate. If only I (complete) it yesterday.

I need to finish some work for tomorrow, but I can't concentrate. If only I had completed it yesterday.

(5) I really wish I (not leave) it till the last moment.

I really wish I hadn't left it till the last moment.

(4) I would like to go to the cinema tonight, but I can't.

I wish I could go to the cinema tonight.

(2) I can't go to work today. I feel ill.

I wish I didn't feel ill. If I didn't feel ill, I could go to work today. / If I didn't feel ill, I would be able to go to work today.

(4) I can't buy a new computer. I don't have enough money.

I wish I had enough money. If I had enough money, I could buy a new computer. / If I had enough money, I would be able to buy a new computer.

wish + past perfect

I wish I had remembered her birthday. (but I didn't)

(1) I failed my exams. I should have studied more.

I wish I had studied more. If I had studied more, I wouldn't have failed my exams.

(6) I would like to buy a new car, but I can't afford it at the moment. WISH

I wish I had the money to buy a new car.

(3) I forgot my parents' wedding anniversary.

I wish I hadn't forgotten my parents' wedding anniversary.

(1) I left my job to start my own business, but it's not going well. WISH

I wish I hadn't left my job because my own business isn't going well.

(6) I missed an easy goal in today's match.

I wish I hadn't missed an easy goal in today's match.

(7) I don't know the answer to the question.

I wish I knew the answer to the question.

(1) I'm not very good at Art.

I wish I was good at Art.

wish + past simple

I wish I was on holiday. (but I'm not)

(5) Peter plays music late at night.

I wish Peter wouldn't play music late at night.

(3) My team didn't play well. We lost the match.

I wish my team had played well. If my team had played well, we wouldn't have lost the match.

(B2) wish - present

I wish she were more responsible.

(3) It's a pity you didn't accept the job. HAD

I wish you had accepted the job.

(9) Why don't you pay more attention in class? WOULD

I wish you would pay more attention in class.

wish + subject + would + infinitive

I wish you would stop shouting.

(12) I ... to learn Spanish rather than German.

I would prefer to learn Spanish rather than German.

(5) I ... to order a pizza rather than cook dinner.

I would prefer to order a pizza rather than cook dinner.

(9) I ... Andy played tennis with Peter tonight.

I would rather Andy played tennis with Peter tonight.

(10) I ... have a salad for lunch instead of a heavy meal.

I would rather have a salad for lunch instead of a heavy meal.

(1) I ... have played football last Saturday.

I would rather have played football last Saturday.

(1) Your friend wants to copy your homework. You want her to do it herself. What do you say?

I would rather you didn't copy it and did it yourself.

(A3) I'd rather/sooner ... - past

I'd ather you hadn't wasted so much time playing computer games.

(4) I'll miss the train if I don't hurry up. BETTER

I'd better hurry up or I'll miss the train.

(3) Your friend offers you tickets for the operain exchange for tickets to the football match. What do you say?

I'd prefer to go to the football match rather than to go to the opera.

(5) Your parents have offered to buy you a new digital camera instead of a new iPod. what do you say?

I'd prefer to have a new iPod rather than a new digital camera.

(F) would prefer + to + infinitive + rather than + infinitive

I'd prefer to have a party at home rather than go to a club.

(D1) I'd rather + present infinitive for present or future reference

I'd rather have a break now.

(D2) I'd rather + past infinitive for past reference

I'd rather have stayed at home last night.

(5) He shouldn't have used my laptop. USED

I'd rather he hadn't used my laptop.

(B3) I'd rather/sooner ... - present

I'd rather he travelled by plane.

(2) You are invited to a formal ball, but you don't want to go. What do you say?

I'd rather not go to that ball.

(G) would rather + infinitive + than + infinitive

I'd rather watch a DVD than go to the cinema.

(E1) I'd rather (somebody) + past simple for present or future reference

I'd rather you didn't eat sweets all the time.

(E2) I'd rather (somebody) + past perfect for past reference

I'd rather you had bought the black pair of jeans.

(13) Why didn't you tell me that you were moving house? RATHER

I'd rather you had told me that you were moving house.

(7) I think you should stay at home today. WERE

If I were you I would stay at home today.

(B1) Conditionals Type 2 - unreal in the present

If I were you, I'd help him.

(2) If only I (take) a taxi, I wouldn't have missed the train! Right now I'm waiting at the station for the next one.

If only I had taken a taxi, I wouldn't have missed the train! Right now I'm waiting at the station for the next one.

If only + subject + would + infinitive

If only James would stop talking in class.

(11) I don't like it when Jane borrows my clothes without asking. ONLY

If only Jane would ask before borrowing my clothes.

If only + past perfect

If only she hadn't lied about her test result. (but she did)

If only + past continuous

If only we were going out tonight. (but we aren't)

(2) It would have been better if you had told me earlier. ONLY

If only you had told me earlier.

(C2) It would have been better if + past perfect for past reference

It would have been better if you had asked for professional advice. = You should have asked for professional advice.

(B6) It's time / It's about time / It's high time

It's time you turned off your computer.

(3) It's very noisy here. I wish it (be) quiet.

It's very noisy here. I wish it were quiet.

(3) Katy ... to go to the cinema rather than the opera tonight.

Katy would prefer to go to the cinema rather than the opera tonight.

(10) Kay is upset because she didn't pass her driving test. WISHES

Kay wishes she had passed her driving test.

(8) Paul ... apples to oranges.

Paul prefers apples to oranges.

Exercise 4

Put the verbs in brackets into their correct tense.

(8) You'd think she was the boss by the way she acts, but she isn't. THOUGH

She behaves as though she were the boss.

(B5) as if/as though - untrue situation in the present

She speaks as if she were the boss.

(A4) Suppose/Supposing

Suppose the police had caught you, what would you have done?

(B4) Suppose/Supposing

Suppose your teacher asked you to speak in front of the class, what would you do?

(A) unreal past

The Past Perfect can be used to talk about imaginary, unreal or improbable situations in the past. This is called Unreal Past.

(B) unreal present

The Past Simple can be used to talk about imaginary, unreal or improbable situations in the present.

were --> was

We can use "were" instead of "was" after "wish" and "If only".

(E) I would rather = I'd rather = I'd prefer

When the subject of "would rather" is different from the subject fo the following verb, we use (E1) or (E2).

(4) Your brother has overslept. You think he will miss his train. What do you say?

You'd better get up, otherwise you will miss your train.

(C1) had better + present infinitive for present or future reference

You'd better recycle that scrap paper. = You should recycle that scrap paper.

wish/if only + subject + would + infinitive = to express a polite imperative or a desire for a situation or person's behaviour to change

pragnienie zmiany, irytacja, niezadowolenie z czyjegoś zachowania

wish/if only

wish/if only = życzenia, pragnienia, żale, sugestie