Unit 25: Unreal past, wishes / contrast
Ngữ pháp Unreal past, wishes / contrast
📘 Giải thích tiếng Việt
Unreal past (quá khứ giả định)
Nhiều thì quá khứ không chỉ thời gian quá khứ mà diễn tả tình huống giả định ở hiện tại/tương lai. Dùng past simple sau second conditional, suppose / what if / imagine, would rather + chủ ngữ, it's (high) time, và câu hỏi lịch sự: It's high time hats came back in fashion.
Wishes / if only
Chọn cấu trúc theo ý muốn diễn đạt: wish + past (ước ở hiện tại/tương lai), wish + past perfect (tiếc về quá khứ), wish + would (phàn nàn, mong ai đổi hành vi), wish + could (khả năng giả định). Lưu ý sắc thái: nói về mong muốn tương lai có thể xảy ra thì dùng hope, không dùng wish: I hope I'll have enough money.
although / though / even though
Đều nối mệnh đề tương phản (+ chủ ngữ + động từ). Even though nhấn mạnh hơn; though thân mật hơn và có thể đứng cuối câu: I got sunburn, though.
in spite of / despite
Nghĩa giống nhau nhưng theo sau là V-ing, danh từ, hoặc the fact that + mệnh đề (không phải mệnh đề trần): Despite wearing a hat, I got sunburn.
however / while / whereas
However và nevertheless (trang trọng hơn) là trạng từ nối. While và whereas đối chiếu hai ý trái ngược: Whereas he loves silk, she prefers cotton.
Theory
Unreal past
Past tenses do not always refer to past time. In some sentences and with some verbs or phrases we use a past tense to refer to the present or the future or to a general situation.
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| a second conditional | I'd buy that top if I had more cash on me. |
| suppose / what if / imagine | Suppose / imagine I became a famous super model! |
| would rather + you/he/she/we/they | I'd rather you didn't come with me to the fashion show tomorrow. |
| it's (high/about) time | It's (high/about) time that hats came back in fashion. |
| polite questions | Did you want me to send you our new catalogue when it comes out? |
| wish / if only | If only / I wish I had something to wear tonight. |
Watch out! Suppose, what if and imagine can also be followed by a present tense (more likely to happen) or a past tense (less likely).
Wishes
We use different structures with wish / if only, depending on what we want to express:
| Use | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Wishes about the present/future/generally | wish/if only + past simple/continuous | I wish I was studying history of fashion! |
| Wishes about the past | wish/if only + past perfect simple/continuous | If only I'd known Burton's was having a sale. |
| Criticising / complaining (now, future, generally) | wish/if only + would | If only Henry would get a haircut! |
| Hypothetical ability or permission | wish/if only + could | I wish I could fit into these jeans. |
| Formal desires | wish + full infinitive | I wish to try on this ball gown. |
Watch out!
- We do not usually say if only / I wish I would. Use I wish I had / I wish I could instead.
- To express desires about the future, use hope (not wish): I hope I will have enough money to buy these shoes next week.
although / though / even though
Although, though and even though are used to express contrast. Even though is more emphatic. Though is more informal.
- Although / Though / Even though + subject + verb, subject + verb.
- Subject + verb, although / though / even though + subject + verb.
- Though can also come at the end of a sentence: I wore a hat. I got sunburn, though.
in spite of / despite
In spite of and despite mean exactly the same thing and take the same grammatical structures:
- in spite of / despite + -ing form: Despite wearing a hat, I got sunburn.
- in spite of / despite + the fact (that) + subject + verb: In spite of the fact that I wore a hat, I got sunburn.
- in spite of / despite + noun: Despite my hat, I got sunburn.
however / nevertheless
However and nevertheless are used to express contrast. However is formal. Nevertheless is even more formal. They can appear at the start, middle, or end of a sentence.
while / whereas
While and whereas are used to contrast two different facts or ideas.
- While / Whereas + subject + verb, subject + verb.
- Subject + verb, while / whereas + subject + verb.
Exercise A
Complete using the correct form of the verb in brackets.
Exercise B
Each of the words or phrases in bold is incorrect. Rewrite them correctly.
Exercise C
Choose the correct answer.
Exercise D
Complete the sentences so that the meaning remains the same.
I wish
If only
I wish
Frank wishes
Don't you wish
I wish
Suppose
I'd rather
It's high time
Exercise E
Match to make sentences.
Exercise F
Complete using although, despite, however or while.
Exercise G
Complete each second sentence using the word given, so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Write between two and five words in each gap.
In he was exhausted, Mike kept on climbing.
Despite would win the music competition, Sally came third.
Doug wasn't shortlisted for the job a great CV.
Ferries have been cancelled, able to take off and land.
Sandra couldn't find a well-paid job a good degree.
Red still enjoyed living in the city twice.
It's a great film, a little complicated.
The kids failed to find the tennis ball everywhere.
In , Pat really enjoyed the match.
Despite , the police didn't manage to catch the culprit.
Exercise H
If a line is correct, put a tick (✓) next to the number. If there is an extra word in a line, write it next to the number.
The school dance
I went to my first school dance last Saturday night and it was a disaster! If
only that I'd thought about what I was going to wear a bit more carefully. Although
being my best friend Jenny had told me it wasn't that kind of event, I'd decided
to look really grown-up and wear a dress and high-heeled shoes. When I got
there, I looked totally ridiculous and some people started laughing. Despite of
this slight setback, I thought I'd hit the dance floor. If I could have survive that,
I could survive anything. But even though that went wrong! One of my heels
snapped – even if though my shoes were brand new – and I had to carry them
to the side of the room. It was very embarrassing! Still, despite the disastrous
start was, Craig Fielding came up to me and asked me if I wanted to go out with him next Saturday. Of course I said no, but he is cute! We'll see what happens!
Exercise I
Write one word in each gap.
On the Catwalk
with Sunny Magenta
(1) the fact that I try to be as upbeat as possible in this column, I have to say Milan has disappointed me. If only we (2) possibly go back to the glory days of fashion (ie last year) when skirts were short and pink was the new black. Pink is still in this year, interestingly enough. (3) , it's only being used in accessories such as buckles, belts, braces and beads. Brown – the must-have colour of the season – has never been my favourite colour, (4) I have to say that Belinda Steven's all-brown paper beachwear was quite stunning. That's in (5) of its complete impracticality, of course. It really is (6) time that haute couture entered the real world just a tiny bit. I know it's supposed to be more art than clothing, but suppose you actually (7) the mistake of buying a Diego Fernandez baseball cap made of candle wax. That's one walk in the sunshine and five thousand euros is dripping down your face! Now, I'm not saying I wish I (8) stayed back in dull and grey London – the after-show parties were tremendous, as always. But I do hope that next season I (9) be able to report that the fashion world's got a grip on itself once more, and then – (10) though none of us will ever be able to afford any of the items I describe in this column – at least we'll have something to dream about once more.
