UNREAL TIME AND SUBJUNCTIVES The 2nd form of the verb ( played, went; was, did; had, etc.) is sometimes used in English to refer to an unreal situation. Although the tense looks like the “past”, we are usually talking about the present, e.g. in a Type 2 conditional sentence: If dogs had wings, they would be able to fly. Although had looks like the past tense, we are not referring to the past - we are talking about a hypothetical situation. This is “unreal” time. Some words and expressions can introduce either “real” or “unreal” worlds. Others (in bold) always signal unreal worlds: since after conditional conjunctions such as: if unless if only what if in case as long as , I’d [rather/sooner] in the “that+subject+verb" clause after I I wish; I’d prefer [rather/sooner] etc. expressions provided/providing suppose/supposing/Let’s in the “that+subject+verb" clause after the expressions provided/providing time/It’s about time etc. suppose etc. (Let’s) imagine It’s time/It’s high time/It’s What is a “that+subject+verb” “that+subject+verb” clause? Look at the “que+subject+verb” phrases in Catalan: Espero que plogui Tant de bo que no hagués menjat tant . Preferia que aquells homes paressin de fumar ! There are two main differences in English: We must say who the subject is (in Catalan you usually know who the subject is because of the ending of the verb) We don’t need to say “that” because we recognise it’s a “that+subject+verb” clause as soon as we hear the subject: I wish (that) she lived in Girona. It’s time (that) you went home • •
It's time/It’s about time/it’s high time You can say “It’s time to go” [es hora de marxar] when it is obvious in the context who has to go, but if you use a that+subject +verb clause [es hora que marxis] you must use the the 2 nd form. It’s time we left. It’s about time I was going. It's high time you began revising for your exam in June.
wish/if only (= magic. It is not real!) nd that + subject+2 verb form The verb wish is followed by nd subject+2 verb form The conjunction if only is followed by When you want to magically change the present or the future: I wish (that) I had a motorbike. (I don’t have one now.) If only you weren’t leaving. (You are leaving.) When you want to magically change the past: I wish (that) my parents had bought me a motorbike when I was 18. (They didn’t buy me one.) If only she had gone to university. (She didn’t go to university and now she can’t find a good job.) If only I hadn’t eaten so much. (but I did. I ate too much and now I’m sick)
When you want to magically change somebody’s habits (but you don’t think they will change) or change some horrible situation (but you don’t think it will change) we use would (the second form of will) I wish he would stop smoking. (but he won’t) I wish it would stop raining. raining. (but it will will probably probably continue continue to rain) rain) I wish you wouldn’t make such a mess. (but they are teenagers!) But remember: Hope Our hopes for the future are expressed with the verb hope and real (1st form) tense. This contrasts with Catalan & Spanish, where you use a subjunctive: Espero que plogui. Hope, in English, is not unreal . I
hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow. I hope you have a lovely time in Portugal next week .
I’d prefer
prefer is a verb, so
I’d prefer to go to the cinema I’d prefer you to go to the theatre. I’d prefer that you went to the theatre I’d prefer that you didn’t go I’d prefer that Mary had gone
= = = = =
Preferia anar al cine NO CATALAN EQUIVALENT
Preferia que anessis al teatre Preferia que no marxessis Preferia que Mary haguès anat
But we also say: I’d prefer it if you went / I’d prefer it if she had gone. And of course, I’d prefer tea to coffee. She’d prefer some biscuits.
rather (preferentment) and sooner (més aviat) are not verbs. They are adverbs. present : I’d rather play football than tennis. She’d sooner read a book than watch TV past : I’d rather have lived in Ancient Greece than Ancient Rome. She’d sooner have married George Clooney than me But, an old use of would (meaning wish or want) has survived when combined with rather & sooner and that+subject+verb in the 2 nd form So:
I’d rather you didn’t smoke in here. I’d rather the President resigned.
I’d sooner she stayed in a hotel.
As if, as though – Real and unreal The verb form used with as if/as though depends on whether the situation is true or unreal. You look as if you’re having second thoughts. (True. He is having second thoughts.) He acts as if he were in charge. (Unreal. He isn’t in charge) Note, however, that the more colloquial like does not require this verb form change. Compare: You look like you have just seen a ghost. You look as if you had just seen a ghost.
Suppose and imagine – Understood conditions The conditional part of these sentences is often understood but not stated. Imagine we won the lottery! Suppose/supposing someone told you that I was a spy! Imagine we had never met! (we have met) As with conditional sentences, if the event referred to is a real possibility, rather than imaginary, a present verb form is possible: Suppose it starts raining, what’ll we do?
Formal Subjunctives - Insisting, demanding, etc. After verbs such as demand, insist, suggest, require which involve an implied obligation, the subjunctive may be used in formal style. This has only one form, that of the infinitive, and there is no third person –s, or past form. The verb be has be for all forms. They demanded that he leave at once. (not he leaves) The school Principal suggested that he be awarded a scholarship. (not he is)
Formulaic Subjunctives These are also a lot of fixed expressions (from more archaic language) that use the subjunctive. Typical expressions are: God save the Queen! Be that as it may … Come what may ….
Suffice it to say …. Far be it from me … So be it.
UNREAL TIME AND SUBJUNCTIVES
Practice I
Underline either hope or wish in each sentence:
1) I hope/wish I’ll see you again soon. 2) I hope/wish the weather improves soon. 3) I hope/wish I knew the answer.
4) I hope/wish you didn’t have to go. 5) I hope/wish you’d stop shouting so much. 6) I hope/wish nothing goes wrong.
II Put each verb in brackets into an appropriate verb form.
1) I’d rather you ____________________ (not/watch) television while I’m reading. 2) It’s high time you __________________ (start) working seriously. 3) I wish I __________________ (spend) more time swimming last summer. 4) Helen is bossy. She acts as if she ______________ (own) the place. 5) I wish you ________________ (not/keep) coming late to class. 6) Suppose a complete stranger _______________ (leave) you a lot of money in their will! 7) I wish I _______________ (not/go) to your party after all. 8) I’d rather you _______________ (sit) next to Susan, please. 9) You are lucky going to Italy. I wish I ______________ (go) with you. 10) She wishes her parents _______________ (approve) of her boyfriend. III Correct the errors in each sentence.
1) I wish I bought that old house. ______________________________________________________ 2) I’d rather you don’t eat all the bread. _________________________________________________ 3) It’s time I go. ___________________________________________________________________ 4) I wish I own a motorbike. __________________________________________________________ 5) I wish we are not leaving in the morning. ______________________________________________ 6) Sue would rather reading than watching television. ______________________________________ 7) Come what comes, I’ll be on your side. _______________________________________________ 8) I hope it would stop raining. ________________________________________________________ 9) I’d prefer if you didn’t wait. ________________________________________________________ 10) I wish I didn’t listen to you before. ___________________________________________________
IV For each sentence, write a new sentence as similar as possible in meaning to the original sentence, but using the words given in brackets.
1) Please, hurry up! (wish) 2) It’s very late. We really ought to be leaving. (time) 3) It would be nice to know his opinion. (wish) 4) Please keep it a secret for the time being. (rather) 5) It’s a pity that you’re going away so soon. (wish) 6) Would you mind not smoking at table? (rather) 7) He really should find himself a regular job. (time) 8) My parents would prefer us to live in the country. (rather) 9) When is the weather going to improve? (high time) 10) Please stop making so much noise! (wish)
V Complete each sentence with a suitable word or phrase.
1) I wish you _______________________ making so much noise late at night! 2) I’d rather the children _________________ on the television without permission. 3) Suppose ___________________ half the money I owe you. Would that satisfy you? 4) I hope __________________ get into trouble on my account? What do you think they’ll say? 5) This is an awful hotel. I wish we ______________________ to the Grand instead. 6) I’d rather you _________________________ talk so loudly, if you don’t mind. 7) If he __________________________ so self-righteous, he’d realise he was wrong. 8) I think it’s high time we _________________________ locking all the windows at night. 9) Would you rather I _____________________ the lunch, if you feel tired? 10) I’d prefer you ____________________ smoke in here, if you don’t mind.
VI Add one of these common phrases to each of the sentences.
come what may
suffice it to say
so be it
far be it from me
be that as it may
God forbid
a
If, …………………………….., you were to die, who’d run the business?
b
I don’t want to explain. ……………….. Aunt Sarah is coming to stay after all.
c
If you really want to drop out of college, then …………………….
d
………………………., I’m determined to finish decorating my room this weekend.
e
……………………………. to tell you what to do, but you’d be mad to marry him.
f
“This medicine tastes horrible!” ‘………………………., it will cure your cough.’
VII Now what do you prefer?
A holiday at the seaside or in the mountains? I’d rather spend my holidays at the seaside than in the mountains. 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8)
Working from home or from the office? Travelling by car or by public transport? Going to the cinema or to the theatre? Meat or fish as a main course? Winter fashion or summer fashion? Reading or watching television? A dog or a cat? Learning vocabulary or grammar?
UNREAL TIME AND SUBJUNCTIVES
answers
Practice I
Underline either hope or wish in each sentence:
1) I hope/wish I’ll see you again soon. 2) I hope/wish the weather improves soon. 3) I hope/wish I knew the answer.
4) I hope/wish you didn’t have to go. 5) I hope/wish you’d stop shouting so much. 6) I hope/wish nothing goes wrong.
II Put each verb in brackets into an appropriate verb form.
1) I’d rather you ____________________ (not/watch) television while I’m reading. 2) It’s high time you __________________ (start) working seriously. 3) I wish I __________________ (spend) more time swimming last summer. 4) Helen is bossy. She acts as if she ______________ (own) the place. 5) I wish you ________________ (not/keep) coming late to class. 6) Suppose a complete stranger _______________ (leave) you a lot of money in their will! 7) I wish I _______________ (not/go) to your party after all. 8) I’d rather you _______________ (sit) next to Susan, please. 9) You are lucky going to Italy. I wish I ______________ (go) with you. 10) She wishes her parents _______________ (approve) of her boyfriend. III Correct the errors in each sentence.
11) I wish I bought that old house. ______________________________________________________ 12) I’d rather you don’t eat all the bread. _________________________________________________ 13) It’s time I go. ___________________________________________________________________ 14) I wish I own a motorbike. __________________________________________________________ 15) I wish we are not leaving in the morning. ______________________________________________ 16) Sue would rather reading than watching television. ______________________________________ 17) Come what comes, I’ll be on your side. _______________________________________________ 18) I hope it would stop raining. ________________________________________________________ 19) I’d prefer if you didn’t wait. ________________________________________________________ 20) I wish I didn’t listen to you before. ___________________________________________________
IV For each sentence, write a new sentence as similar as possible in meaning to the original sentence, but using the words given in brackets.
11) Please, hurry up! (wish) 12) It’s very late. We really ought to be leaving. (time) 13) It would be nice to know his opinion. (wish) 14) Please keep it a secret for the time being. (rather) 15) It’s a pity that you’re going away so soon. (wish) 16) Would you mind not smoking at table? (rather) 17) He really should find himself a regular job. (time) 18) My parents would prefer us to live in the country. (rather) 19) When is the weather going to improve? (high time) 20) Please stop making so much noise! (wish)
V Complete each sentence with a suitable word or phrase.
11) I wish you _______________________ making so much noise late at night! 12) I’d rather the children _________________ on the television without permission. 13) Suppose ___________________ half the money I owe you. Would that satisfy you? 14) I hope __________________ get into trouble on my account? What do you think they’ll say? 15) This is an awful hotel. I wish we ______________________ to the Grand instead. 16) I’d rather you _________________________ talk so loudly, if you don’t mind. 17) If he __________________________ so self-righteous, he’d realise he was wrong. 18) I think it’s high time we _________________________ locking all the windows at night. 19) Would you rather I _____________________ the lunch, if you feel tired? 20) I’d prefer you ____________________ smoke in here, if you don’t mind.
VI Add one of these common phrases to each of the sentences.
come what may
suffice it to say
so be it
far be it from me
be that as it may
God forbid
g
If, …………………………….., you were to die, who’d run the business?
h
I don’t want to explain. ……………….. Aunt Sarah is coming to stay after all.
i
If you really want to drop out of college, then …………………….
j
………………………., I’m determined to finish decorating my room this weekend.
k ……………………………. to tell you what to do, but you’d be mad to marry him. l
“This medicine tastes horrible!” ‘………………………., it will cure your cough.’
VII Now what do you prefer?
A holiday at the seaside or in the mountains? I’d rather spend my holidays at the seaside than in the mountains. 9) Working from home or from the office? 10) Travelling by car or by public transport? 11) Going to the cinema or to the theatre? 12) Meat or fish as a main course? 13) Winter fashion or summer fashion? 14) Reading or watching television? 15) A dog or a cat? 16) Learning vocabulary or grammar?
