It’s time you…, I’d rather you…

  • B2 · Upper-intermediate
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min
  • it's time + past

The past for unreal situations now: It's time you got a job. I'd rather you didn't borrow my car. You act as if this house were a hotel. The student hears a dad's voice message to his grown-up son, chooses and fixes the forms, writes notes for a family fridge, and gives advice on an advice podcast.

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It's time youI'd rather youwere

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2In this lesson
  3. 3Listen: Dad's messageListening comprehension
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Find the past after it's time, rather and as ifGrammar exercise
  6. 6it's time, I'd rather, as if + pastGrammar rule
  7. 7Choose the right formGrammar exercise
  8. 8Notes on the fridgeGrammar exercise
  9. 9Find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  10. 10Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
  11. 11Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  12. 12The advice podcastSpeaking practice
  13. 13About youGrammar exercise
  14. 14Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: the neighborhood groupGrammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: which sentence is correct?Grammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: build the sentencesGrammar exercise
  4. 4Homework: Finn's replyDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. Who did you live with when you were twenty? What was it like?
  2. What is one thing your family always argues about?
  3. Do you lend things to family members? What would you never lend?

Grammar rule

it's time, I'd rather, as if + past

In these structures, the past simple is not about the past. It shows that something is not real, or not happening yet.

StructureMeaningExample
it's time + someone + past simpleit should happen now; it is late alreadyIt's time you called your grandmother.
it's high time / it's about time + someone + past simplethe same, but stronger: often a complaintIt's about time the bus company added more buses.
I'd rather + someone else + past simplewhat you want another person to do (now or later)I'd rather you didn't smoke in the car.
Would you rather I / we + past simple?asking what the other person prefersWould you rather I sat in the back?
as if / as though + past simpleit isn't true; it only seems that wayShe talks to her dog as if it understood every word.

Compare

  • it's time (for someone) + to + verb: it's the right time, with no complaint. It's time to order. It's time for us to order.
  • I'd rather + verb (than…): your own preference. I'd rather watch the game at home than go to the stadium.

Notes

  • With be, were is the careful form for every person: She dresses as if she were a movie star. was is common in conversation.
  • In conversation, Americans also use the present after as if (He acts as if he owns the place), or like (He acts like he owns the place). The past makes it clear that it is not true.
  • American English also says I'd rather you not + verb: I'd rather you not smoke in the car.

Watch out

  • No will and no to after the person: It's time we will leave → It's time we left. I'd rather you to wait → I'd rather you waited.
  • After it's time for + someone, to + base verb: It's time for us left → It's time for us to leave.
  • For your own preference, the base verb: I'd rather sleeping or I'd rather slept → I'd rather sleep.

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