Grammar - Unit 5

Question 1

wish + past simple

Answer 1

• to express a wish that is not true in the present.
• to talk about wishes that might come true in the future
• use this structure when we want our own situation (or the situation of the person who is doing the wishing) to be different

I wish Katy lived here

Question 2

wish + be

Answer 2

• to say how we would change a present or future situation
• often use “were” instead of “was” (more formal style)

I wish he was/were a little more open-minded

Question 3

wish + would

Answer 3

• to refer to general wishes for the future
• to talk about other people’s annoying habits
• to talk about wishes for ourselves (i or we) use could

I wish my brother-in-law would sell that old car
I wish I could buy a new computer

Question 4

wish + could

Answer 4

• to talk about an ability we would like to have

I wish I could learn to be a bit tidier

Question 5

wish + past perfect

Answer 5

• to refer to things we are sorry about in the past or to express regret

she wishes she hadn’t lost her temper

Question 6

if only

Answer 6

• the same verb forms as wish when our feelings are stronger
• use it with an exclamation mark
• would/wouldn’t to criticise someone else’s behaviour

if only I could take back the dreadful thing I said!
if only I had never left my home town!

Question 7

it’s time

Answer 7

• use it with the past simple to talk about the present or future
• the action should have been done before
• emphasis: it’s about time and it’s high time

it’s (about) time you went to bed.
it’s (high) time we left for the airport.

Question 8

would rather + past simple

Answer 8

• to talk about preferences for the present and future

I’d rather you didn’t mention this to Alex
would you rather I came back a bit later?

Question 9

would rather + past perfect

Answer 9

• to say what we wanted to happen in the past

I’d rather you had informed me of your decision sooner

Question 10

would rather + infinitive

Answer 10

• talking about our own preferences for ourselves or other people’s preferences for themselves.

I’d rather fly than catch the train

Question 11

substitution

Answer 11

it, one, do, there, that, so, neither and not

Question 12

ellipsis

Answer 12

• after and, but and or
• at the end of a verb phrase
• with infinitives