UNREAL TENSES AND SUBJUNCTIVES
It's time, It's high time, It's about time
They are followed by past simple or continuous, though the time referred to is unreal
It's time we left. It's high time I was/were going.
Wishes
Present
I wish I had a motorbike. (I don't have one now)
I wish you weren't leaving. (You are leaving)
I wish I was going on holiday with you. (I am not going)
Would and could - if the verb is an event verb the reference is to the future
I wish you would leave. (would here means `I decided to')
I wish I could come on holiday with you next year. (I can't come)
I wish we could have been together. (we weren't together)
I wish you wouldn't make such a mess. (would is often used to describe an annoying habit)
Past
I wish I hadn't eaten so much. (I ate too much)
If only - adds emphasis on hypothetical situations, with past events it adds the sense of regret
If only I had enough time! (I don't have enough time)
If only I hadn't drunk too much! (I drank too much)
Hope - expresses simple future events
I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow.
I hope he will stop talking soon!
I'd rather/I'd prefer (followed by a clause)
I'd rather is followed by past tenses in the same way as wishes about the present. It expresses personal preference about actions.
I'd rather you didn't smoke in here. (I'd sooner you didn't smoke in here.)
Both I'd rather and I'd sooner are used with normal tenses when comparing nouns or phrases
I'd rather be a sailor than a soldier. (present)
If I could choose again, I'd rather have been a sailor than a soldier. (past)
I'd rather have lived in Ancient Greece than Ancient Rome. (past)
Expressing preferences about other people's actions
I'd rather leave on an earlier train. (I'm referring to myself)
I'd rather he left on an earlier train.
I'd rather be happy. I'd rather not sit next to her. (present - I'm referring to myself)
I'd rather she was/were happy. I'd rather she didn't sit next to me.
I'd rather have been present. (past - I'm referring to myself)
I'd rather you had been present.
I'd prefer can be used as part of a second conditional sentence.
I'd prefer it if you didn't go.
I'd prefer is not followed by unreal tense.
I'd prefer tea to coffee.
I'd prefer you not to go.
4. As if, As though
Real and unreal
He acts as if he were in charge. (unreal - he isn't in charge)
He acts as if he is in charge. (real - he is/might be in charge)
You look as if you had seen a ghost! (unreal comparison)
Present and past reference are both possible
I feel as if I were flying. (I'm not)
I feel as if an express train hit me. (It didn't)
5. Suppose, Imagine
Understood conditionals
Imagine we won the pools! (Imagine what we would do if … )
Suppose someone told you I was a spy! (What would you say?)
Suppose it starts raining, what will we do? (real possibility - present tense is possible)
Present or past
Imagine we had never met!
Suppose we went to Wales for a change.
6. Formal Subjunctives
After verbs such as demand, insist, suggest, require, request, order recommend, propose, think which involve an implied obligation, the subjunctive can be used in formal style. This has only the infinitive form.
They demand that he leave at once.
The police insisted the car be removed immediately.
The same applies after expressions such as
it is advisable/necessary/essential/important/desirable/preferable that …
It is essential that you arrive before six.
It is urgent that he send the information at once.
Less formal should can be used and colloquially no tense change is made or infinitive construction is used.
The police insisted the car should be removed immediately.
The police insist the car is removed immediately.
They demanded that he should leave.
They demanded that he left. (informal)
It is essential for you to arrive before six.
It is urgent that he should send the information now.
It is urgent that he sends the information now.
It is urgent that he send the information now.
had better is stronger, even a warning
You had better see a doctor.
You had better not lose your passport.
After if
If he (should) agree/agrees or not, we are going to have to go ahead.
After whether
Whether he (should) agree/agrees or not, we are going to have to go ahead.
After whatever
Whatever his reasons be/are, they are insufficient to excuse him.
7. Formulaic Subjunctive
Fixed expressions using subjunctive
God save the Queen! So be it. Come what may …
Heaven help us! Be that as it may …
Heaven forbid! Suffice it to say …
Curse this fog! Far it be from me …