The unreal past and wish

The Unreal Pastand

‘Wish’

What happens to a ‘condition’ when it moves into the past?

1). The condition was verified

2). We don’t know if the condition was verified

3). The condition wasn’t verified

If you do your homework,you’ll be able to do this exercise.

If you do your homework,you’ll be able to do this exercise.

1). The condition was verified

You did your homework, andyou were able to do that exercise.

1). The condition was verified

You did your homework, andyou were able to do that exercise, or

now you are able to do it.

1). The condition was verified

If you do your homework,you’ll be able to do this exercise.

2). We don’t know if the condition was verified

If you have done your homework,you’ll be able to do this exercise.

2). We don’t know if the condition was verified

If you do your homework,you’ll be able to do this exercise.

3). The condition wasn’t verified

If you had done your homework,you would have been able to do that

exercise.

3). The condition wasn’t verified

this form is called the 3rd conditionalit describes the ‘unreal past’

Present or future hypothesis

Past unrealised hypothesis

If Brazil wins, nobody will be surprised.

If Brazil had won,nobody would have been surprised.

If I won the lottery, I’d buy a Ferrari.

If I had won the lottery,I would have bought a Ferrari.

If John were rich, he’d buy a Ferrari.

If John had been rich,he would have bought a Ferrari.

Present or future hypothesis

Past unrealised hypothesisNB always the same form

If Brazil wins, nobody will be surprised.

If Brazil had won,nobody would have been surprised.

If I won the lottery, I’d buy a Ferrari.

If I had won the lottery,I would have bought a Ferrari.

If John were rich, he’d buy a Ferrari.

If John had been rich,he would have bought a Ferrari.

Present Subjunctive

Past Subjunctive

Past Perfect Subjunctive

I

be

were (was)

had been

he / she / it

we

wereyou

they

Present Subjunctive

Past Subjunctive

Past Perfect Subjunctive

Itakedohavearrivegiveetc

tookdidhadarrivedgaveetc

had

takendidhadarrivedgivenetc

he / she / it

we

you

they

the ‘unreal past’works like this

past fact Brazil didn’t win

1. +ive <-> -ive Brazil won

2. go one tense back(past perfect subjunctive)

Brazil had won

3. add context If Brazil had won, nobody would have been surprised.I wish (that) Brazil had won.

past fact Spain won

1. +ive <-> -ive Spain didn’t win

2. go one tense back(past perfect subjunctive)

Spain hadn’t won

3. add context If Spain hadn’t won, the Basques would have celebrated.They wish (that) Spain hadn’t won.

Present Subjunctive

Past Subjunctive

Past Perfect Subjunctive

I

be

were (was)

had been

he / she / it

we

wereyou

they

Present Subjunctive

Past Subjunctive

Past Perfect Subjunctive

Itakedohavearrivegiveetc

tookdidhadarrivedgaveetc

had

takendidhadarrivedgivenetc

he / she / it

we

you

they

create unreal past sentences from these:

I wasn’t at home.I wanted to go with them.We didn’t have her address.She didn’t speak perfect Spanish.You weren’t listening to me.I knew the answer.He had to work hard.You were there.He wasn’t there.This class was supremely intelligent.I didn’t pay attention to the other cars.She didn’t see her friend.It was Monday.I didn’t come to university by scooter.

what about ‘wish’?

3 possible constructions:

I wish it were Friday.

I wish I had known about the party.

I wish my neighbours would shut up.

unreal present I wish it were Friday.

unreal past I wish I had known about the party.

possible but remote future desire

I wish my neighbours would shut up.

unreal presentpast subjunctive

I wish it were Friday.

unreal pastperfect subjunctive

I wish I had known about the party.

possible but remote future desire?

I wish my neighbours would shut up.

compare

I hope my neighbours (will) shut up.

I want them to shut up maybe they will.

I wish my neighbours would shut up.

I want them to shut up but I expect that they’ll continue to make a noise.

I wish my neighbours would shut up.

?

what is the present situation?

My neighbours won’t shut up.

won’t = they don’t want to shut up

present fact My neighbours won’t shut up.

1. +ive <-> -ive They will shut up.

2. go one tense back(past subjunctive)

They would shut up.

3. add context I wish (that) they would shut up.

I wish my neighbours would shut up.

‘would’ is the past subjunctive of ‘will’

IT IS NOT the conditional!

summary

zero conditional

If you pour oil on water, it floats.

1st

conditionalIf Brazil wins, nobody will be surprised.

2nd

conditionalIf I won the lottery, I’d buy a Ferrari.If John were rich, he’d buy a Ferrari.

3rd

conditionalIf you had done your homework,you would have been able to do that exercise.

NB don’t confuse

‘the conditional sentences’(or ‘the conditionals’)ie. sentences with “If A; B”

with‘the conditional (tense)’eg. “I would/could/should/might go”

notice the symmetry in the constructions

present / subjunctives ‘will’ / ‘would’

1st If Brazil wins, nobody will be surprised.

2nd If I won the lottery,If John were rich,

I would buy a Ferrari.he’d buy a Ferrari.

3rd If you had done your homework,

you would have been able to do that exercise.