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4. We may use the past perfect of be for things that can never happen:
I wish I had been on holiday last week. If only Tessa had been here yesterday!
5. We use the past or past perfect forms of other verbs:
I wish I knew the answer to your question. I wish I had known then what I know now!
“Would’ and ‘could’ after ‘I wish’ and ‘if only’
We must use could, not would, after I and we. Compare:
I can’t swim. → I wish I could swim.
We weren’t together! → I wish we could have been together.
We sometimes us I wish you (he, she, etc). would(n’t) like an imperative:
(I am making a lot of noise!) → I wish you wouldn’t make so much noise!
(He is making a lot of noise!) → I wish he would be quiet!
‘It’s (high) time’ and ‘It’s (about) time’
We use It’s time, it’s high time and It’s about time to express present or future wishes, or
to express our impatience about things that haven’t happened yet:
Kim can’t even boil an egg. – I know. It’s time/high time/about time she learnt to cook!
H. Expressing preferences: ‘would rather’ and ‘would sooner’
Expressing personal preference with ‘I’d rather’/’I’d sooner’
1. We use would rather and would sooner in exactly the same way to express preference.
We can refer to the present or the future:
I’d rather/I’d sooner be a builder than an architect.
Or we could choose again. I’d rather/sooner have been a builder than an architect.
If I could choose again. I’d rather/sooner have been a builder than an architect.
2. We can omit the verb in negative short answers:
Are you coming with us? – No, I’d rather/sooner not.
Would you rather have been a builder? – No, I’d rather/sooner not (have been).
Expressing preferences about other people’s actions
1. We can refer to other people after I’d rather or I’d sooner. Compare:
I’d rather leave on an earlier train. (= I’m referring to myself)
I’d rather Jack (etc.) left on an earlier train.
2. We use the past tense form after I’d rather toe refer to the present or future.
Compare:
I’d rather be happy. I’d rather not sit next to her. (= now – I’m referring to myself)
I’d rather she were/was happy. (= now) I’d rather she didn’t sit next to me. (= now)
3. We use the past perfect form after I’d rather to refer to past time. Compare:
I’d rather have been present. (= then – I’m referring to myself)
I’d rather you had been present. (then) I’d rather you hadn’t told me about it. (then)
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