UNREAL TIME AND SUBJUNCTIVES

The past tense is sometimes used in English to refer to an unreal situation. Although the tense is 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.
Other situations where this occurs are:
After other words and expressions like if (suppose/supposing, if only, what if, imagine)
After the verb to wish
After the expressions Id rather; Id prefer; Its time.
It's (high) time is followed by past simple or continuous, though the time referred to is unreal.
Its time we left. Its high time I was going.
It's high time you hung up your trainers and started exercising your mind, not your body.
Wishes
Present/Future time + PAST SIMPLE when we want to talk about situations in the present that we are not
happy about and would want to change a present/future state.
I wish I had a motorbike. (I dont have one now.)
I wish you werent leaving. (You are leaving.)
Would is used when the speaker wants somebody or something else to change, or to describe an annoying
habit.
I wish it would stop raining.
I wish you wouldnt make such a mess.
Past time
As with present wishes, when we refer to situations in the past we are not happy about or about actions that we regret,
the verb form after wish is one stage further back in the past, so we use wish followed by the past participle. Same is
used after if only to express regrets.
I wish I hadnt said that.(but I did)
If only I hadnt eaten so much. (but I did)
Hope
Wishes about simple future events are expressed with hope.
I hope it doesnt (wont) rain tomorrow.
I hope you(ll) have a lovely time in Portugal (on your holiday next week).
Id rather/Id prefer (followed by a clause)
Id rather is followed by PAST VERB forms in the same way as wishes about the present. It expresses
preference about actions.
Id rather you didnt smoke in here.
Both Id rather and Id sooner are used with normal verb forms when comparing nouns or phrases.
Id rather be a sailor than a soldier. (present)
Id rather have lived in Ancient Greece than Ancient Rome. (past)
Id prefer can be used in the same way, but note that prefer in this type of sentence has an object it.
Id prefer it if you didnt go.
As if, as though + PAST SIMPLE, PAST PERFCT
The verb form used with as if/as though depends on whether the situation is true or unreal.
You look as if youre having second thoughts. (True. He is having second thoughts.)
He acts as if he were in charge. (Unreal. He isnt in charge)
Suppose and imagine + PAST TENSE
Imagine we won the lottery!
Suppose/supposing someone told you that I was a spy!
Imagine we had never met! (we have met)
Insisting, demanding
After verbs such as ask, command, demand, insist, propose, recommend, require, suggest + that +the
infinitive.
They demanded that he leave at once.
The school Principal suggested that he be awarded a scholarship.
expressions: it is (high) time, it is desirable, essential, important, necessary, vital + that
It is essential that we vote as soon as possible. It was necessary that every student submit his essay by the weekend.
FIXED EXPRESSIONS:
God save the Queen!
Long live the King!
God bless America!
Heaven forbid!
Be that as it may, he still wants to see her.
Come what may, I will never forget you.