Fill in the blanks.
1. It is time you ....................................... home.
Correct!
Wrong!
A simple past is used after it is time to refer to the present or future.
2. It is time you ................................... a loan.
Correct!
Wrong!
3. I would rather you ................................. money from him.
Correct!
Wrong!
4. I would rather you .............................. so much on gadgets.
Correct!
Wrong!
5. I would prefer ................................... with you.
Correct!
Wrong!
Prefer is followed by a to-infinitive. Would rather is followed by a bare infinitive.
6. Do you wish you ............................. curly hair?
Correct!
Wrong!
A past tense is used after I wish to talk about unrealistic hopes and aspirations.
7. If only I ............................... enough.
Correct!
Wrong!
A simple past or past continuous can be used after if only with the same meaning.
8. If only I ................................... more careful.
Correct!
Wrong!
9. I wish you ............................ act more sensibly.
Correct!
Wrong!
10. If only she ............................. her mistake.
Correct!
Wrong!
11. If only I ........................ a pay rise.
Correct!
Wrong!
12. If only they .................................... us earlier.
Correct!
Wrong!
A past perfect is used after if only to talk about wishes about the past.
Answers
- It is time you went home.
- It is time you got a loan.
- I would rather you didn’t borrow money from him.
- I would rather you didn’t spend so much on gadgets.
- I would prefer not to go with you.
- Do you wish you had curly hair?
- If only I was earning / earned enough.
- If only I had been more careful.
- I wish you would act more sensibly.
- If only she realized her mistake.
- If only I got a pay rise.
- If only they had informed us earlier.
