Unreal Past

An unreal past structure is one that considers impossible situations. While conditional forms are the most obvious, there are also a number of other ways we can talk about such scenarios.
We’ll take a look here at the variety of forms we can use and how we use them.
Conditional Forms
While conditional forms can also express an unlikely present we are concentrating on ideas that refer to the past here.
The first of these is the 3rd conditional. While we have a typical structure, as follows below here, there are other ways to express the same idea.
Let’s look at some examples
This is the standard if + past perfect form, modal + have + p.p. structure.
- If you hadn’t helped me with the report , I would have been here all night.
We can also use inversion, a structure we can use to show formality.
- Had you not helped me with the report , I would have been here all night.
Further forms that can be used as well as inversion are were + for or but for.
- Had it not been for your help me with the report , I would have been here all night.
- Were it not for your help/your helping me with the report , I would have been here all night.
- But for your help with the report , I would have been here all night.
Speculation & Criticism
Another way we discuss the unreal past is by offering opinions on how or why past events occurred. Two ways we do that are by speculating about it or by criticising past actions.
These types of forms mean that a speaker is offering a more personal view of the situation.
Examples
- I shouldn’t have stayed up so late last night, I’m exhausted.
- What were you doing running onto the road? You could have been killed.
- You needn’t have washed the dishes. I would’ve put them in the dishwasher.
- There was no need to be so rude. She just asked you a simple question.
As you can see, these examples do refer to real past situations but as they are proposing alternatives and speculating we can view them in the same way as the more typical conditional forms.
Regrets & Possibilities
Regrets and talking about past possibilities are another way to reflect on the unreal past.
The most typical of these are the use of wish and if only.
Examples
- I wish you had talked to me first before buying that car.
- If only we had got there sooner, the accident would never have happened.
- You should have talked to me first before buying that car.
These two forms generally have much the same meaning although if only has a slightly stronger meaning. We can also see how should have + p.p. is possible with the same general sense of regret.
Wish and if only can also be different in meaning.
- If only we had seen the car coming, we could have braked sooner. (regret)
- I wish we’d known you were coming. (wish)
Preferences
When we look at preferences we are at two basic forms rather and prefer. Both, of course, refer to the present but we can also use them as a way of commenting on past preferences.
The grammar for both is different but the meaning is a type of regret or criticism.
Rather
Examples
- I would rather not have fired him but I had no choice given his consistently poor performance.
- I would rather you hadn’t told her we we were coming. I wanted it to be a surprise.
An alternative to would rather is would sooner and it is used with exactly same structure as would rather.
e.g.
I would sooner not have fired him but I had no choice given his consistently poor performance.
Prefer
Examples
- I would prefer not to have fired him but I had no choice given his consistently poor performance.
- I would prefer (if) you hadn’t told her we we were coming. I wanted it to be a surprise.
Other Unreal Past Structures
Finally, there are a number of expressions which talk about things that should be happening.
These forms use a past form structure and typically use expressions with It’s time.
Example: It’s time we were going.
This example suggests it’s past the time to do something. We can use about and high for further emphasis.
- It’s high time you got a job.
- It’s about time they fired him, he was a terrible manager.
About time can also be used to show irritation, anger or relief about a situation. The general meaning of the expression in this case is finally.
- Hi Mum, I’m home.
- About time! Where have you been?
Unreal Time
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Choose the alternative answer that can be used to rewrite the original sentence. There may be more than one possible answer.
Example
I wish you hadn’t done that.
- I’d rather you hadn’t done that.
- I’d prefer if you didn’t do that.
- If only you hadn’t done that.
- Imagine you hadn’t done that.
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Question 1 of 6
1. Question
I didn’t know you were vegetarian otherwise I wouldn’t have cooked lamb for you.
Correct
Of the four options two do not make sense.
Were I to know you were vegetarian I wouldn’t have cooked lamb. This were structure is rarely used with the speaker.
Had I known you were vegetarian I wouldn’t have cooked lamb. This is the best answer.
I needn’t have cooked down if I’d known you were vegetarian. This is possible but not a natural alternative
I shouldn’t have cooked lamb, knowing that you are vegetarian. This sentence suggests that the speaker was aware of the situation so it is not an alternative.
Incorrect
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Question 2 of 6
2. Question
He would have gone on working until 65 except he got sick.
Correct
The first two options are possible. The 3rd and 4th options refer to personal opinions about the situation.
But for his illness he would have gone on working till 65.
If it were not for his illness he would have gone on working till 65.
He wished he had been able to work till 65.
He should have been able to work under 65 if he hadn’t been ill.
Incorrect
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Question 3 of 6
3. Question
You need to take responsibility for your actions now.
Correct
I’d sooner you take responsibility for your actions. This is used with a past form.
I’d rather you took responsibility for your actions now. This is a possible option.
It’s time you took responsibility for your actions. This is the best option
You should have taken responsibility for your actions. This refers to to actions that are not mentioned in the original sentence so it’s not possible.
Incorrect
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Question 4 of 6
4. Question
It wasn’t necessary to be so rude to your boss.
Correct
The first option is the only one that is not possible. All of the other sentences could be used.
I wish you hadn’t been so rude to your boss.
You should not have been so rude to your boss.
You needn’t have been so rude to your boss.
Being rude to your boss is not something you should have done.
Incorrect
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Question 5 of 6
5. Question
Are you saying you don’t want me here?
Correct
Two choices are possible here. The 3rd sentence is not a natural option and the final example implies a specific rather than a general idea.
Are you saying you would sooner that I left?
Do you wish I had left earlier?
Is it high time that I left?
Should I have left earlier?
Incorrect
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Question 6 of 6
6. Question
If the police hadn’t helped me find where my sister was living, I would never have found her.
Correct
Three options are possible here. As ought to is similar to should in the second sentence it is not a natural option here.
Were it not for the help of the police I never would have found my sister.
I ought never to have found my sister if it hadn’t been for the police.
Were the police not helping me, I would never have found my sister.
Without the help of police, I would otherwise never have found my sister.
Incorrect