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The Unreal Past

The unreal past is used to talk about imaginary situations in the past. You can describe what you would have done differently or how something could have happened differently if circumstances had been different.

We use wish + past simple to talk about things we would like to be different in the present. For example, "I wish (that) I were famous."

We use wish + past perfect to talk about things that happened in the past that we wish hadn't happened. For example, "I wish I had asked her out before she moved away."

We use if only for emphasis, or to emphasize something. For example, "If only I had paid my bill on time. Now I owe more money!"

We use wish + would to talk about things we want to stop because we find them annoying. For example, "I wish the dog would stop barking!"

The Unreal Past Grammar Quiz

  1. If I , would she still think I'm ugly?

  2. What if Kurt Cobain still alive, would you still love Nirvana's music?

  3. If I the lottery, I would buy you a house.

  4. Supposing Obama the election, could he still be popular?

  5. We could go to the movies, if only I have to work.

Go Super to see the answers! Go Super!

The Unreal Past Lessons:

Giving Gifts

Mayer Hawthorne

Hit the Hay

Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides

Gap Year

Power Suits

Wanderlust

Glasses

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Comments

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mei liew

Malaysia

thank you.

03:55 AM May 12 2010 |

monanemo

monanemo

Egypt

good lesson…:)

03:23 AM Apr 08 2010 |

in09uh

in09uh

Indonesia

very helpful

07:01 AM Mar 07 2010 |

afireinside

Colombia

thank you

if you weren't do this lesson I wouldn't be confused hahaha I'm just kidding but I didn't understand all this topic I will study this one more time again 

02:23 AM Feb 27 2010 |

Whitney S

Whitney S

Colombia

What a good lesson!

07:37 AM Jan 06 2010 |

fR

fR

Mexico

cool

07:38 PM Dec 17 2009 |

ZoOm In

ZoOm In

Saudi Arabia

very useful !

thanks a lot :) 

12:56 PM Dec 17 2009 |

Amesmile

Cote D'Ivoire

it's time we spoke english

04:03 PM Dec 09 2009 |

bobomar

Algeria

thanks a million

 

04:48 PM Nov 18 2009 |

mohit_cool

mohit_cool

India

Thank you sir

07:51 PM Nov 17 2009 |