WISHES REGRETS I WISHIF ONLY Expressing WISH I

WISHES & REGRETS - I WISH/IF ONLY

Expressing WISH I WISH/IF ONLY + PAST SIMPLE When we talk about present regrets, both wish and if only are followed by the past simple tense. The past tense emphasises that we are talking about something ‘unreal’. We wish our present/future was different. • Examples: I wish I knew how to use a computer. I wish my friends were here right now.

I am not very tall. I wish………………

Expressing REGRET I WISH/IF ONLY+ PAST PERFECT We use WISH/IF ONLY + PP to talk about past regrets. ■ Examples: I wish I had woken up early. I wish we had gone to see another movie.

I have a hangover

COMPLAINING ABOUT A PRESENT SITUATION I WISH/IF ONLY+ WOULD/ COULD +VERB We use wish + would to talk about something in the present that we would like to change – usually something that we find annoying. We can only use wish + would to talk about things we can’t change. ■ Examples: I wish you wouldn't arrive so late all the time. I wish Pedro could stop chewing gum *BUT!!! If we talk about ourselves we don’t use WOULD! ■ 1. I wish I had a job. So I wish I wouldn’t eat so much chocolate - It is not possible although we can say I wish I didn’t eat so much chocolate.

My best friend always swears. I want him to stop it!

PRACTICE ■ Test: https: //www. test-english. com/grammar-points/b 1 -b 2/wishes-regrets/ ■ http: //www. esl-lounge. com/student/grammar/4 g 48 -advanced-if-only-i-wishtenses-multiple-choice. php

Wish and regrets MORE PRACTICE

I speak terrible English. I wish I ______ English at school.

I speak terrible English. I wish I had learnt English at school.

I don't understand this point of grammar. I wish I ______ it better.

I don't understand this point of grammar. I wish I understood it better.

I miss my friends. I wish my friends ______ here right now.

I miss my friends. I wish my friends were here right now.

I wish it ____ so much. The garden's turned to mud.

I wish it didn’t rain so much. The garden's turned to mud.

If only I _______ on time to the interview.

If only I had arrived on time to the interview.

I wish you _____ drink so much. You're a complete idiot when you're drunk.

I wish you wouldn’t / didn’t drink so much. You're a complete idiot when you're drunk.