Wish, If Only, and It’s Time + Subjunctive Past

It’s time we left — the train departs in ten minutes.

Notice

  • It’s time we left — the train departs in ten minutes.
  • I wish you would stop interrupting me.
  • If only I had listened to my parents’ advice.
  • It’s high time the government took this issue seriously.

Rule

It’s (high) time + subject + past simple expresses that something should happen now or soon (a mild criticism that it hasn’t already). Wish + would expresses annoyance at someone’s ongoing behaviour (not a wish about yourself). If only works like ‘wish’ but is more emphatic, for regrets and strong hypothetical wishes.

Practice

  1. Complete: ‘It’s time we _____ (leave).’
    Answer: left
  2. Complete (annoyance): ‘I wish you _____ (stop) making that noise.’
    Answer: would stop
  3. Rewrite with ‘if only’, more emphatic: ‘I wish I had studied harder.’
    Answer: If only I had studied harder.
  4. Explain: why can’t we say ‘I wish I would be taller’?
    Answer: ‘Wish + would’ expresses annoyance about someone else’s behaviour, not a wish about your own state — use ‘wish + were/past simple’ instead: ‘I wish I were taller.’

Connect

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CEFR: Spoken Interaction — express nuanced feelings about hypothetical and unfulfilled situations.

Azizul Hakim
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