Unreal time meaning and examples

Do you know how to talk about hypothetical situations by shifting the verb tense back? Enhance your knowledge with the lesson given below and the grammar explanation to guide you better.

Check out these examples to see how we use different tenses to describe unreal scenarios:

• If only I knew the answer to that question.

• It's about time we addressed the issue of climate change.

• I’d prefer it if you kept this between us for the moment.

Grammar explanation - Unreal time

When we talk about imagined, desired, or unlikely situations, we use 'unreal' time. This means we often shift the verb form back: the present becomes the past, and the past becomes the past perfect. This shift indicates a distance from reality.

1. Wish and if only

We use wish and if only to talk about things we would like to be different in the present or the past. If only is generally a stronger expression than wish.

The present

We use wish/if only + past form to express a desire for a change in a present situation.

• I wish I spoke more languages.

• If only the weather was better today.

We use would when we want something or someone else to change, often expressing frustration or annoyance.

• I wish people would stop littering in the park.

The past

We use wish/if only + past perfect form to express regret about something in the past.

• I wish I had studied harder for the exam.

• If only we hadn’t missed the train, we would have arrived on time.

The future

Note that we don’t use wish to talk about future events we hope will happen.

• I wish you win the lottery.

Instead, we use hope to express future wishes.

• I hope you win the lottery.

2. It’s (high) time

We use the expression it’s (high) time + subject + past verb form to say that something should be done now, especially if it should have been done earlier.

• It’s high time we left for the airport.

• It’s time we made some serious changes.

3. As if/as though

We use as if and as though to describe how something appears or seems. As if is more commonly used than as though.

• He acts as if money didn’t matter.

• It felt as though we were the only ones in the room.

When we use unreal tenses after as if/as though, we suggest that the statement is not true.

4. Would rather

Would rather is used to express a preference for actions.

• I’d rather go on a road trip than fly.

When the subjects of the two clauses are different, we often use unreal tenses.

• They’d rather we didn’t tell anyone yet.

• I’d rather you didn’t borrow my car.

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