1. Which sentence is grammatically correct to express a present unreal preference?

• I’d rather he going to the library today.
• I’d rather he went to the library today.
• I’d rather he gone to the library today.
• I rather he went to the library today.
• I’d rather he goes to the library today.

Answer explanation

Correct = went (past simple for present preference).

2. Which sentence correctly describes a past unreal preference?

• I’d rather we had stayed at home yesterday.
• I’d rather we staying at home yesterday.
• I’d rather we stay at home yesterday.
• I’d rather we stayed at home yesterday.
• I rather we had stayed at home yesterday.

Answer explanation

Past unreal = had + past participle.

3. Choose the correct use of “suppose” for an unreal present situation.

• Suppose I buying a car, I’d be rich now.
• Suppose I had bought a car, I’d be rich now.
• Suppose I buy a car, I’d be rich now.
• Suppose I bought a car, I’d be rich now.
• Suppose I have bought a car, I’d be rich now.

Answer explanation

Present unreal = Suppose + past simple.

4. Which sentence uses “imagine” correctly for a past unreal situation?

• Imagine I have bought a ticket last week.
• Imagine I had bought a ticket last week.
• Imagine I buy a ticket last week.
• Imagine I bought a ticket last week.
• Imagine buying a ticket last week.

Answer explanation

Past unreal = had bought.

5. Which sentence is correct with “It’s as if” in the present?

• It’s as if he knew the answer.
• It’s as if he knowing the answer.
• It’s as if he had known the answer.
• It’s as if he know the answer.
• It’s as if he knows the answer.

Answer explanation

Present unreal uses past simple.

6. Which shows a correct unreal past with “It was as if”?

• It was as if she had forgotten her name.
• It was as if she forgetting her name.
• It was as if she forgets her name.
• It was as if she has forgotten her name.
• It was as if she forgot her name.

Answer explanation

Past unreal = had + participle.

7. Correct preference about the present:

• I’d sooner she went home now.
• I sooner she went home now.
• I’d sooner she had gone home now.
• I’d sooner she goes home now.
• I’d sooner she going home now.

Answer explanation

Sooner + past simple = present preference.

8. Correct wish about the past:

• I wish I had stayed at home yesterday.
• I wish I was staying at home yesterday.
• I wish I staying at home yesterday.
• I wish I stayed at home yesterday.
• I wish I have stayed at home yesterday.

Answer explanation

Past unreal = had stayed.

9. Which is correct with “rather” (present)?

• I’d rather you going now.
• I’d rather you went now.
• I’d rather you goes now.
• I’d rather you had gone now.
• I’d rather you go now.

Answer explanation

Rather + past simple.

10. Unreal supposition in present:

• Imagine he were rich, he’d buy a car.
• Imagine he had been rich, he’d buy a car.
• Imagine he was rich, he’d buy a car.
• Imagine he is rich, he’d buy a car.
• Imagine he being rich, he’d buy a car.

Answer explanation

Subjunctive = were.