Hypothetical past situations

I WISH/IF ONLY + Past Perfect

a) I wish I hadn’t told her the truth.
a) If only they had listened to me.

I’D RATHER/I’D SOONER + Past Perfect b) I’d rather you hadn’t

spoken him on my behalf.
b) I’d sooner she hadn’t bought that old
banger.
+ Perfect Infinitive b) I’d rather have made it myself.
b) I’d sooner have studied with more
devotion.

SHOULD + Perfect infinitive

c) You should have bought an umbrella.
c) You shouldn’t have spoken to him like
that.

THIRD CONDITIONAL
d) If you had been studying, you could have passed the
exam.
d) If they had talked to their neighbours first, they might
have learned the truth.
d)James would have listened to you, if you had given him
good advice.

MIXED CONDITIONAL
e) If you hadn’t stayed up to read last night, you wouldn’t
be so tired now.
f) If I weren’t so broke at the moment, I could have bought
you something decent for birthday.

_______________ to speculate about how a different situation in the past might

have had different results in the present
_______________ to speculate about how things might have been different in
the past
_______________ to express wishes, regrets and criticism about the past
_______________ to speculate how changes to the present situation might have
influenced the past
_______________ to express regrets and criticism about the past

If only I was young again. TIME: TENSE:

I wish I had been born a princess. TIME: TENSE:
I’d rather you didn’t smoke in here. TIME: TENSE:
I’d rather you hadn’t told him. TIME: TENSE: