Imaginary and Unreal Past

Imaginary 

                   We sometimes have purely imaginary visions, and the second conditional pattern is used to express these unreal imaginations that are impossible in our real world. We use the verb form ‘were’ even with singular nouns and pronouns to show that what is said is purely imaginary, and that is the only visible sign to recognise that what is expressed is unreal.

Woman by a window with a singing bird: "If I were a bird, I would fly to him and sing a love song."

If she were a bird,  she would fly to him and sing a love song.

Woman watching a yellow bird: "If I were a bird, I would fly round the world."

If she were a bird,  she would fly round the world.

Woman watching a bee by a flower: "If I were a bee, I would go from flower to flower and collect nectar."

If she were a bee, she would go from flower to flower and collect nectar.

Woman writing at a desk: "If I were the moon, I would never change my shape."

If she were the moon, she would never change her shape.

Man tells a friend "If she were a ghost, she would come into your room in the dead of night and frighten you."

If she were a ghost, she would come into your room in the dead of night and frighten you.

Three women: "Hey Aunty! Hi!" "If she were an English girl, She would speak good English."

If she were an English girl, she would speak English well.

Rat asks a cat "If I were a cat and you were a rat, what would you do?" "I wouldn't run away as you do."

Hello friend! If I were a rat and if you were a cat, what would you do?

I wouldn’t run away as you do.

Unreal Past

                   We use this second conditional sentence pattern to talk about something unreal or wish for now. We go back in time in our thoughts and regret the things we didn’t do in the past.

Woman tells a girl "If I remembered that it was your friend's birthday yesterday, I would wish her a happy birthday."

If I remembered that it was your friend’s birthday yesterday, I would wish her a happy birthday.

Man tells a friend "I saw the film last Sunday. If you had seen the film, you would have really enjoyed it."

We use the following expressions also to show unreal past. Past Simple Tense is used with these expressions for something unreal or wished-for now.

I wish, It is time,  It is high time,  If only, As if,    Suppose,  Would to God,  etc.

Children on a beach at sunset: "The Sun is going down. It is time we went home."

Family having tea in a living room: "It is time we left now."

Woman at a laptop: "I wish I had found this job earlier."

Woman remembering a couple dancing: "I wish I hadn't gone to the party. He had been dancing with another girl."

Woman at a laptop: "I wish I had found this job earlier."

Woman with roses: "I wish he hadn't eaten so much garlic."

Man and woman with roses: "I wish I had brought my camara. If I had brought it, I would have taken a wonderful photo."

Woman with a wedding photo: "He was a married man. I wish I hadn't married him."

Grieving woman under a portrait: "She wishes her husband would be living."

Angry wife at the door: "I wish, you were 1000 miles away." Husband: "I wish, I had been."

Woman tells a man "I wish I had met you earlier. If I had met you earlier, I would have married you."

Old man with a broken umbrella: "I wish I had been careful. If I had been careful, I wouldn't have fallen into the ditch."

Crying mother thinking of her soldier son: "Would to God my son hadn't joined the army."

Old men at a mental hospital gate: "Who is it?" "It is my sweetheart. If only she knew I am here."

Who is it?

It is my sweetheart. If only she knew I am here. She will think I am the Director.

 

 

Amarasiri Ganewatta

Amarasiri Ganewatta

Director, English Language Laboratory

Amarasiri Ganewatta is the director of the English Language Laboratory. He is a retired English teacher and a language translator living in California, USA.

Email: ganewatta@gmail.com

Books by the Author

Understanding Advanced English Grammar 1 in 3D by Amarasiri Ganewatta, book cover

‘UNDERSTANDING ADVANCED ENGLISH GRAMMAR’ is the first book of a series of three books. This book begins with the introduction of the three dimensions of the English language. It is an innovative method of teaching Active Voice, Passive Voice and Causative uses looking at an action in three different angles.

Available at Amazon
English Interrogatives by Amarasiri Ganewatta, book cover

ENGLISH INTERROGATIVES

Interrogative words may be used in direct questions as well as in indirect questions. They are also used as Relative Adverbs and Relative Pronouns. Therefore, we must have a clear understanding of how to use these very important ‘Wh’ words in English. This book covers all the important usages of interrogatives for the benefit of all users.

English Through Pictures by Amarasiri Ganewatta, book cover

It is clearly shown how the verbs ‘Be’, ‘Have’ and ‘Auxiliary Verbs’ control the flow of time in the English language. All these subtle things can never be grasped by a simple explanation with words. Therefore, the ‘ENGLISH through PICTURES’ book has so many illustrations drawn to give the finer points that all users of English should know.

Exploring Grammar World 1 by Amarasiri Ganewatta, book cover

EXPLORING GRAMMAR WORLD 1      The verb illustrated in the book as a family of five (father, mother and three little children) is one creative idea which will help to solve the grammar problems about the behaviour of the verb.

‘EXPLORING GRAMMAR WORLD 1’is the first book of a series of books. The author of this book has been teaching languages for nearly five decades to learners of all ages, from primary and secondary to higher education and even to elderly people. The experience gathered in teaching helps the author in developing a new method of teaching language.
          Grammar is like the skeleton of the human body. If there is any deformation in any part of the skeleton, the others will immediately notice it. In the same manner, if ever you make any grammatical mistakes, your audience will notice it. That is why learning grammar is highly important as a language skill.
   

Exploring Grammar World 2 by Amarasiri Ganewatta, book cover

 ‘EXPLORING GRAMMAR WORLD 2’teaches you how to ask and answer all types of questions.
A successful life flourishes on the never-ending drive to understand the ‘Why’ and ‘How’. This urge leads to continuous learning and reshapes how we live, work, learn and engage in day-to-day affairs. This book ‘EXPLORING GRAMMAR WORLD 2’ will fulfil your desire.

Exploring Grammar World 3 by Amarasiri Ganewatta, book cover

‘EXPLORING GRAMMAR WORLD 3’ brings you the most important English sentence patterns. In the first chapter of the book, two Idiomatic expressions, ‘There is/ are, and It is/was/ had been/ will be’ are given with many examples.  Chapter two in the book opens a new door to the conditional world. Conditional Clauses (If clauses) can be put into four categories as 1. Possible Conditions, 2. Probable Conditions, 3. Impossible Conditions, and 4. Zero Condition. There are other conditional sentence patterns too, for expressing Imaginary and Unreal situations. All these Conditional Sentence Patterns are given with examples and illustrations which will help you to remember them easily. For your guidance, relevant exercises are also included. You will find the Answer key at the end of the book.

Five Funniest Stories by Amarasiri Ganewatta, book cover

The stories in this book are full of funny imaginary dialogues, helping the readers to improve their ability to use fun in their day-to-day conversation and are beneficial for developing language skills. Another benefit is that they help readers understand the importance of basic moral values such as politeness, kindness, generosity, and sympathy.

Great Grammar Guide by Amarasiri Ganewatta, book cover

This book contains all the grammar rules, usages, sentence patterns of active voice, passive voice, and causative, English sound system, numbers and counting, nouns, gerunds, prepositions, adjectives, reported speech, word order in sentences, accepted phrases, homophones, phrasal verbs, essay writing, punctuation, English for day-to-day activities, language exercises and an answer key to the exercises.

Know-How English Grammar by Amarasiri Ganewatta, book cover

All the grammar rules are filters used before our eyes and ears for purifying the language we hear and see. The more filters you have, the better knowledge and ability you have to see and read the world as it is. This book provides you with the finest filters you wish to have, giving you the best grammar knowledge.

Revolutionize Learning Grammar by Amarasiri Ganewatta, book cover

‘REVOLUTIONIZE LEARNING GRAMMAR’ is a book which shows how all the Active Voice, Passive Voice and Causative tenses are used in English. We acquire the ability in our childhood to use language to communicate through a set of sounds, gestures, or written words and learn to convey messages, ideas, feelings, and emotions to people who use the same language. If you know the basic grammar rules of your first language, it is quite easy to learn English grammar by using this book because it is the only grammar book which shows the three dimensions of language, helping you to read the world as you see. This book will definitely revolutionise your learning English.

Time and Tenses: The Fourth Dimension by Amarasiri Ganewatta, book cover

There are 44 sentence patterns in English to show the flow of time in the three dimensions: Active Voice, Passive Voice, and Causative. The relevant sentence patterns are given with many examples and illustrations so that anyone who uses this book will be able to convey all subtle feelings and desires using English without any confusion. This book has been written after many years of observation, analysis, and research using several methods and hundreds of illustrations to present how time and tense work in the English language.

44 English Phonics by Amarasiri Ganewatta, book cover

This book provides help for beginners to improve their standard pronunciation greatly because it gives all the sounds of vowels and consonants with examples and relevant illustrations.

Perfect English Grammar in 3D by Amarasiri Ganewatta, book cover

The practice lessons given in this book with illustrations will help to solve all the grammar problems of the students who are learning English as a second language. This book provides you the knowledge necessary to master the three dimensions of English grammar.

English Grammar Through Pictures by Amarasiri Ganewatta, book cover

If you know the basic grammar rules of your first language, it is quite easy to learn English grammar by using this book because it is the only grammar book which shows the three dimensions of language with hundreds of lively illustrations helping you to read the world as you see. This book will definitely revolutionise your learning English.

Understanding Advanced English Grammar 1 in 3D Through Pictures by Amarasiri Ganewatta, book cover

Once you follow the lessons in this book, you will find that English grammar is easier than any other grammar.

Understanding Advanced English Grammar 2 in 3D Through Pictures by Amarasiri Ganewatta, book cover

There are sixteen active voice tense patterns in the English language, and all these patterns are given with examples and illustrations in this book. They will help solve all the grammar problems pertaining to the usage of English tenses.

Understanding Advanced English Grammar 3 in 3D Through Pictures by Amarasiri Ganewatta, book cover

   All the relevant sentence patterns with illustrations are given in this book so that readers can use English without any grammar difficulties. Appropriate exercises and Answer Keys will help you to test your grammar knowledge in the fields of Adverbs, Conditional Clauses, and Reported Speech.

Lazy Jack by Amarasiri Ganewatta, book cover

LAZY JACK is a book full of colourful illustrations and interesting dialogues suitable for young children to motivate novel visions about life. The original story LAZY JACK was written by James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps (1820 – 1889), who was a great literary figure and contributed much to English literature. By collecting traditional stories and nursery rhymes, he did a great service to the children of the world.

English Phrasal Verbs Through Pictures by Amarasiri Ganewatta, book cover

ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS THROUGH PICTURES is a book with a new vision. Phrasal verbs are very useful for expressing one’s feelings with emotions.  The English language is rich with many phrasal verbs that are constantly used in everyday communication. The learners will be able to keep all the phrasal verbs in mind as visuals and forget about the words and sentences; just try to remember the illustrations given. Close your eyes, and the words and sentences will appear in no time. Emotions cannot be seen but felt.  ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS THROUGH PICTURES will help you to express your emotions colourfully.