WISHES AND REGRETS:
WISHES AND REGRETS:
•
o
o
o
With:
Wish / if only
It’s time / it’s high time/ it’s about time
Would prefer it if/would have preferred
it if/ would prefer
o Would sooner/ would rather
Wish/ if only:
We use them with past simple and past continuous
to express present wishes:
I wish Tom was/were here now.
If only I knew someone who could help me.
All the staff wish you weren’t leaving so soon.
If only it wasn’t/weren’t raining!
Wish/ if only:
We use them with past perfect to express past
wishes and very often also to express regrets:
If only I had known you were coming.
I wish I had known you were coming.
Wish/ if only:
We use them with “would” to express future
wishes:
I wish more young people would vote, but they
won’t.
If only it would stop raining, we could go out.
It’s time/ it’s high time/ it’s
about time:
We use them with past simple and past continuous
to express what the speaker would like to
happen now/ in the future:
It’s time you had a haircut.
It’s high time you got a job.
It’s about time we were leaving.
It’s time/ it’s high time/ it’s
about time:
We use them with to-infinitive when there is no
subject after “time” to express what the speaker
would like to happen now/ in the future:
It’s time to buy a new car.
Would prefer it if:
We use it with past simple and past continuous
to express preference now/ in the future:
I would prefer it if people didn’t use their
mobile phone on public transport.
I’d prefer it if we were meeting/met at
the cinema.
Would have preferred it if:
We use it with past perfect to express
preference in the past and very often also
to express regrets :
We would have preferred it if you had
warned us at the time.
Would prefer:
We use it with to-infinitive when there is no
subject after “prefer” to express preference
now/ in the future:
I’d prefer to get involved.
Would rather/would sooner:
We use them with past simple and past continuous
to express preference now/ in the future:
I would rather you went home now.
I’d sooner you came next week.
I’d rather my family were spending/spent
more time together.
Would rather/would sooner:
We use them with past perfect
to express preference in the past and very often
also to express regrets :
I’d rather you had told me before.
Would rather/would sooner:
We use them with zero infinitive when there is no
subject after “rather/sooner” to express
preference now/ in the future :
I’d rather have something to eat.
PAST TENSES
Created by:
Carmen Luisa Pérez Amaro