2 GRAMMAR unreal uses of past tenses a Look at the highlighted verbs in these sentences and answer the questions with a partner. - Which ones refer to things that really happened in the past? - What do the others have in common? Which ones refer to the

2 GRAMMAR unreal uses of past tenses
a Look at the highlighted verbs in these sentences and answer the questions with a partner.
- Which ones refer to things that really happened in the past?
- What do the others have in common? Which ones refer to the present or future? Which ones refer to the past?

1 When we got married, my husband and I were penniless students.
2 If he got promoted, we'd be able to afford a new car.
3 I wish we were better off.
4 It's time we thought about buying a bigger house.
5 I wasn't at all surprised when I heard that they had divorced.
6 I'd rather my husband stayed at home with the children.
7 I wish I'd accepted when he asked me to marry him!
8 If I'd married him, I would have a much better standard of living.
b p. 149 Grammar Bank 5B. Learn more about unreal uses of past tenses, and practise them.
c Ask and answer the questions in small groups.
Do you ever wish...?
- you could meet a wealthy partner
- you had been born in another decade or century
- you could have a year off to travel
- you could learn a new skill
- you had chosen to study different subjects at school or university
- you had more free time for your hobbies
- you lived in another town or city