Unreal uses of past tenses: wish, rather, if only, it’s time

This exercise focuses on advanced grammar structures that use past tenses to talk about unreal or hypothetical situations. You'll practice using forms such as wish, if only, it's (high) time, and would rather to express regrets, desires, or preferences in both present and past contexts. Mastering these expressions will help you sound more natural and nuanced in both written and spoken English.

1. I wish I _____ how to solve this problem.

knew

know

have known

2. He talks as if he _____ the boss.

was

were

3. If only she _____ the job offer.

took

had taken

has taken

4. It’s time you _____ a new phone.

get

will get

got

5. I’d rather you _____ to him like that.

don’t speak

haven’t spoken

didn’t speak

6. If only we _____ earlier, we would have seen the performance.

had arrived

arrived

have arrived

7. She acts as though she _____ the place.

owns

has owned

owned

8. I wish they _____ so much noise during meetings.

didn’t make

hadn’t made

wouldn’t make

9. If only I _____ harder for the exam.

had studied

studied

have studied

10. It’s high time we _____ a decision.

make

have made

made

11. I’d rather you _____ with us to the meeting.

came

come

had come

12. Don’t you wish you _____ him the truth?

told

have told

had told