Unreal Past 08/10/09

Unreal Past for hypothetical or imaginary situations in the present:

e.g. It’s raining now, if it wasn’t raining we could eat outside

Is it raining?
Can we eat outside?
Can we change the fact that it’s raining?

e.g. I live in Italy, if I lived in U.S, I would speak English everyday

e.g. If I were you, I’d stop smoking

Wish sentences:

e.g. I wish I could speak Spanish

Can I speak Spanish?
Do I want to speak Spanish?

Wish & would (n’t):
(to express annoyance)

e.g. I wish people wouldn’t be so rude!

I wish she would hurry up!

Compare:

I wish you’d be more positive (= possibility of change)

I wish you were taller (= no possibility of change)