I. CONDITIONALS

a. 1^st Real present

If I find your watch, I will tell you.

b. 2^nd Unreal present

If I found a watch in the street, I would take it to the police.

c. 3^rd Unreal past

If I had known you were in hospital, I would have gone to visit you.

d. 1^st + 3^rd Real present + unreal past.

If Mark speaks English as perfectly as you say he does, he would have got a job in Brussels.

e. 2^nd + 3^rd Unreal present + unreal past

If she loved him, she wouldn't have left him.

f. 3^rd + 2^nd Unreal past + unreal present

If I had studied medicine when I was young, I would be a doctor now.

II. WISH/IF ONLY (If only is stronger)

I wish/ If only + sb/sth did (past simple) - to express wish or regret about the present or future

I wish I didn't work in a school.

I wish/If only + sb/sth had done (past perfect) - to express wish or regret about the past

He wishes he hadn't failed his exam.

I wish + sb/sth would do - to complain (only for actions; the subject must be different)

I wish it would stop raining.

III. IT'S (HIGH/ABOUT) TIME

IT'S (HIGH/ABOUT) TIME (FOR YOU) TO GO.

ITS' (HIGH/ABOUT TIME) YOU LEFT. - to emphasise your irritation; this action should have been already completed

III. Expressing Preference - WOULD RATHER, WOULD PREFER, PREFER, WOULD SOONER

1. the same subject

I'D RATHER (NOT) GO. (present)

I'D RATHER (NOT) HAVE GONE to the party last night. (past)

2. different subject

I'D RATHER YOU DIDN'T GO. (present)

I`D RATHER YOU HADN'T PHONED me at midnight. (past)

3. comparing

a) I'D RATHER WATCH A COMEDY THAN (WATCH) A THRILLER. =

I'D PREFER TO WALK HOME RATHER THAN TAKE THE BUS. (specific preference)

b) HE PREFERS (PLAYING) TENNIS TO (PLAYING) FOOTBALL. =

I PREFER TO EAT FISH RATHER THAN (EAT) MEAT. (general preference)

c) I'D SOONER DIE THAN MARRY YOU! - if you would sooner do something, you would much prefer to do it, especially instead of something that seems unpleasant

IV. Ggiving advice - SB HAD BETTER DO STH

You'd better see a lawyer. ~ You should/ought to see a lawyer. (less emphatic)

V. AS IF/AS THOUGH

Mary talks as if/as though she knew everything. (unreal present)

He had never been abroad, but he spoke as if/as though he had been there many times. (unreal past)

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