The document discusses different ways to express wishes, preferences, and timing in English using phrases like "wish + past simple/past perfect", "if only", "would rather", and "it's time". It provides examples of how to use these phrases to talk about things in the past we want changed, things we find annoying and want to stop, preferences when the subject changes or stays the same, and emphasis on something that needs to be done now or in the near future.

2.  WISH+PAST SIMPLE: things we would like to be
different in the present.
Ex.: I wish (that) I were rich.
 WISH+PAST PERFECT:things happened in the past
that we regret now.
Ex.: I wish I had studied for the exam.
 IF ONLY: more emphatic:
Ex.: If only I had lots money/ If only I had
studied.
 WISH+WOULD: things we want to stop because
we find them annoying.
Ex.: I wish our neighbours would stop making
noise.

3.  For preferences
 WOULD RATHER+INFINITIVE without to: no
change of subject:
Ex.: I’d rather not do the exam.
 WOULD RATHER+PAST TENSE: when subject
changes
Ex.: I’d rather you didn’t speak so loud.

4.  For something that has to be done now or in the
near future
Ex: It’s time you started studying.
 For emphasis and more criticism:
Ex.: It’s high time/it’s about time you started
studying.
 It’s time+infinitive: same subject:
Ex.: It’s time to go