NAT MCQs

'Would rather' followed by a different subject uses a past form for present or future preference.
'Stayed' does not refer to past time here.

The past decision has an unreal present consequence.
A past perfect condition combines with a present conditional result.

'Unless' means 'if not' and introduces a real future condition.
The main clause therefore uses 'will miss.'

A wish about an unreal present situation traditionally uses the past subjunctive 'were.'
This form is used with all persons in formal English.

A regret about the past uses 'wish' plus the past perfect.
'Had known' shows the unreal earlier situation.

'Wish + would' can express annoyance about another person's repeated behavior.
The desired change concerns the future.

After expressions of necessity, formal English may use the mandative subjunctive.
The base form 'submit' is used regardless of the subject.

Verbs of recommendation can introduce the mandative subjunctive.
The subordinate verb remains in the base form.

The phrase refers to an unreal present identity.
Formal conditional usage prefers the subjunctive 'were.'

'Said to' becomes 'told' with an object, and 'can' backshifts to 'could.'
Pronouns change according to the participants.

'Had I known' is an inverted third conditional equivalent to 'If I had known.'
The conditional conjunction is omitted after inversion.

Obligatory 'must' often changes to 'had to' in past reported speech.
'Now' changes to 'then.'