过去非真实条件句
在英语中，过去时有时会被用来论及一个不真实的情况。所以说，纵使动词的时态是过去时，我们实际上讲的是根本没发生过的事。当我们讲的是一个假设丶随时可能发生的情况，就常会出现这样的条件句，因此我们将这种过去式称为「过去非真实条件句」。
「过去非真实条件句」会用在 if丶supposing丶if only丶what if 等表达条件或假设的字词后，还有表达愿望的动词 to wish 之后，以及 I'd rather 之类的字词之后。
表达条件的用词
if丶supposing丶if only丶what if 等字词可以用来引导假设的条件或情况，并在后面接一般过去时的句子，以表示引导的假设条件或情况是虚幻的。
举例
- Supposing an elephant and a mouse fell in love.
- What if we painted the room yellow?
- If you went to the movies, I would babysit.
- If only I had more money, I could go to the movies too.
这些词语也可以用来引导过去的假设情况，后面接过去完成时的句子。
举例
- If only I hadn't kissed the frog.
- What if the elephant had stepped on my phone?
- Supposing I had given that man my money.
祈望
当我们要谈论不满意丶但无法改变的现况，就要把 to wish 这个动词用在过去不真实条件句。
举例
- I wish I had more money.
- She wishes she was beautiful.
- We wish we could come to your party.
当我们想要谈论过去不满意的情况，或者后悔做过的事情，我们会在动词 to wish 后面接过去完成时的句子。
举例
- I wish I hadn't said that.
- He wishes he hadn't bought the car.
- I wish I had taken that job in New York.
当我们想要谈问不满意的现况，并且表达我们希望某人可以改变某事，就要在动词 to wish 后面接 would + 不定词的句型。
举例
- I wish he would stop smoking.
- I wish you would go away.
- I wish you wouldn't squeeze the toothpaste from the middle!
用「I'd rather」和「it's time」来表达宁愿
I'd rather 和 it's time 后面接的也是过去非真实条件句。动词是过去时，但谈论的情况是现在时。当我们想要表达自己希望某人做某件事，就要用 I'd rather + 过去时的句型。
举例
- I'd rather you went.
- He'd rather you called the police.
- I'd rather you didn't hunt elephants.
在这样的句型中，重音的位置很重要；这样才能清楚表达我们宁愿的事物为何。
举例
- I'd rather you went.（而不是我）
- I'd rather you went.（而不是留下）
- He'd rather you called the police.（而不是我）
- He'd rather you called the police.（而不是消防员）
同样的，当我们想要表达现在该做某事，无论是对于自己本身还是对于他人，都是用 it's time + 过去时的句型。
举例
- It's time you paid that bill.
- It's time I went home.
- Don't you think it's time you had a haircut?