# Wishes and Unreal Tenses

https://langs123.com/en/english/sentence-building/wishes-unreal-tenses/
CEFR B2–C1 · 2026-10-19 · CC BY 4.0, langs123 contributors (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

> Wishes and unreal comparisons with wish, if only, as if, it's time and would rather, which take a past tense. A wish about the present takes the past simple, about the past the past perfect: I wish I had more time. I wish I had studied harder.

## Cheatsheet

| Point | Rule | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Wish: unreal past | wish + past simple: now or later; past perfect: earlier | I wish I knew her name. / I wish I had called her. |
| Wish for a change | a change wanted in someone or something | I wish it would stop raining. |
| If only | the patterns of wish with stronger feeling | If only I had listened. |
| It's time | It's time + subject + past simple means now | It's time we left. |
| As if | past simple: not true now; past perfect: not true before; present: possibly true | He talks as if he knew everything. |
| Would rather | another subject takes the past simple | I'd rather you stayed. |
| Suppose, what if | suppose + past simple: unlikely; what if + present: possible | Suppose you won the lottery? / What if he says no? |
| Wish about the past | could have for a missed chance; had been + V-ing for an activity | I wish I could have come. / I wish I hadn't been working so hard. |
| In reports | wish becomes wished; the unreal tense stays | He said he wished he had more time. |
| Formal wish | wish for + noun; wish (that) + clause with were | I wish that he were here. |
| Trap | a state takes the past simple, not would | I wish I had more time. |
| Trap | it's time + subject takes the past simple | It's time we went. |

## Overview

- wish, if only, as if, it's time, would rather and suppose share one set of unreal tenses.
- A past tense after these words marks the situation as not real, and the time stays present or future. I wish I lived nearer the sea.
- Conditionals with if take the same tenses: see Conditionals.

## Form: wish

| Situation | Pattern | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A present state | wish + subject + past simple | I wish I knew his name. |
| A present state with be | wish + subject + were / was | I wish I were taller. |
| A present ability | wish + subject + could + base verb | I wish I could swim. |
| The past | wish + subject + had + past participle | I wish I had known earlier. |
| A change wanted | wish + subject + would + base verb | I wish she would call me. |
| A past activity | wish + subject + had been + V-ing | I wish I hadn't been working so hard. |
| A past chance | wish + subject + could have + past participle | I wish I could have helped. |

- were serves every person in formal style, and was is common in speech. I wish she were / was here.
- The negative takes didn't, hadn't, couldn't or wouldn't. I wish I hadn't said that.

## Use: wish

| Use | Example |
| --- | --- |
| A present situation you want to be different (past simple) | I wish I had a bigger flat. / I wish I knew what to say. |
| An ability or chance you lack (could) | I wish I could play the piano. / I wish we could stay longer. |
| A regret about the past (past perfect) | I wish I had studied harder. / I wish we hadn't argued. |
| A change you want in a person's behaviour (would) | I wish you would listen. / I wish he would hurry up. |
| A change you want in a thing or the weather (would) | I wish it would stop raining. / I wish the bus would come. |
| Annoyance at what someone keeps doing (wouldn't) | I wish you wouldn't leave the door open. / I wish they wouldn't shout. |

## Wish with other patterns

| Pattern | Use | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| wish to + base verb | A formal statement of what you want to do | I wish to speak to the manager. |
| wish + person + noun | A good wish for someone | I wish you luck. / We wish you a happy birthday. |
| wish to + base verb | A formal announcement of an apology, thanks or complaint | I wish to apologise for the delay. / We wish to thank everyone who helped. |
| wish for + noun | A hope for something that may not come | They wish for peace. / She wished for a quiet life. |
| wish + (that) + clause | A formal wish; that is kept in writing | I wish that he were here. / I wish that I had never said it. |

## If only

| Pattern | Use | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| If only + subject + past simple | A present situation, with strong feeling | If only it were Friday. |
| If only + subject + could + base verb | An ability you lack | If only I could sleep. |
| If only + subject + had + past participle | A regret about the past | If only I had listened. |
| If only + subject + would + base verb | A change you want | If only you would help. |

- If only is stronger than I wish and can stand alone as a reply. Did you get the job? — If only!

## It's time

| Pattern | Use | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| It's time + subject + past simple | The moment to act has come; the past simple means now | It's time we left. |
| It's high time / It's about time + subject + past simple | The action is overdue, and the speaker is impatient | It's high time you went to bed. / It's about time you called her. |
| It's time to + base verb | The moment has come; the doer is clear from the context | It's time to leave. |
| It's time for + person + to + base verb | The moment has come for a named person, with no push | It's time for us to go. |
| It's high time + subject + had + past participle | Rare: the action should already be done | It's high time you had finished that report. |

## As if and as though

| Pattern | Use | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| as if / as though + subject + past simple | An unreal present: the speaker does not think it is true | He talks as if he knew everything. |
| as if / as though + subject + had + past participle | An unreal past | She looked as though she had seen a ghost. |
| as if / as though + subject + present | A real possibility: the speaker thinks it may be true | It looks as if it is going to rain. / She sounds as though she has a cold. |
| as if / as though + subject + were | An unreal present in formal style, for every person | He behaves as if he were the owner. |

- as though means the same as as if and is a little more formal.

## Would rather with another subject

| Pattern | Use | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| subject + would rather + person + past simple | A preference about what someone does now or later | I'd rather you stayed. |
| subject + would rather + person + didn't + base verb | A preference against | I'd rather you didn't smoke. |
| subject + would rather + person + had + past participle | A preference about the past | I'd rather you had told me. |
| subject + would sooner + person + past simple | The same as would rather, a little more formal | I'd sooner you waited outside. |

- With one subject, would rather takes the base verb: see Would.

## Suppose, imagine and what if

| Pattern | Use | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| suppose / supposing + subject + past simple | An imagined, unlikely situation | Suppose you won a million pounds. What would you do? |
| suppose / supposing + subject + had + past participle | An imagined past situation | Supposing you had missed your train? |
| imagine + subject + past simple | An invitation to picture a situation | Imagine you lived on the moon. |
| what if + subject + past simple | An unlikely problem | What if nobody came? |
| what if + subject + present | A real possibility that worries the speaker | What if he says no? |
| say + subject + past simple | Informal: the same as suppose | Say you had a million pounds. What would you do? |

## Wishes in reports

| Direct | Reported |
| --- | --- |
| “I wish I had more time.” | He said he wished he had more time. |
| “I wish I had listened.” | She said she wished she had listened. |
| “I wish you would help me.” | She said she wished I would help her. |

- wish becomes wished after a past reporting verb, and the unreal tense after it stays.
- Other tenses in reports shift back: see Reported Speech.

## Compare: wish and hope

| Point | wish | hope |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Meaning | the situation is unreal or unlikely | the situation is possible |
| Verb after it | a past tense | the present simple or will |
| Example | I wish it were warmer. | I hope it will be warm tomorrow. |
| Example | I wish you could come. | I hope you come. |

## Typical errors

| ✗ | ✓ | Rule |
| --- | --- | --- |
| I wish I would have more time. | I wish I had more time. | would asks another person or thing to change; a state takes the past simple |
| I wish I have more money. | I wish I had more money. | a wish about the present takes the past simple |
| I wish I would have studied harder. | I wish I had studied harder. | a wish about the past takes the past perfect |
| I wish it stops raining. | I wish it would stop raining. | wish for a change takes would + base verb |
| I wish you will pass the exam. | I hope you pass the exam. | hope takes the present or will for what is possible |
| It's time we go. | It's time we went. | it's time + subject takes the past simple |
| She looked as though she has seen a ghost. | She looked as though she had seen a ghost. | an unreal past takes the past perfect |
| I'd rather you to stay. | I'd rather you stayed. | would rather + another subject takes the past simple, not to |
| I wish I could come to your party last week. | I wish I could have come to your party last week. | a missed chance in the past takes could have + past participle |