8.2 wish/if only

8.2 wish/if only

UNREAL PAST

• wish/if only +sbd+ PAST SIMPLE (sbd really wants a present or future situation to be different)

• It's (high) time + sbd + PAST SIMPLE (sbd should do sth now/future)

• would rather + sbd + PAST SIMPLE (sbd would prefer SBD ELSE to do now/future)

PAST REGRETS

• wish/if only + sbd + PAST PERFECT to talk about PAST regret (you can't change it anymore:/

• If only I had put more effort in learning English

• I wish I hadn't wasted so much time playing PS last semester...

• NOTE: IF ONLY -much stronger than wish

Let's practise

Multiple Choice

You want to go to the cinema but I don’t.

I’d rather we went / would go to the theatre.

• went

• would go

Multiple Choice

We didn’t book the rooms in advance. –> If only we booked / had booked the rooms in advance.

• booked

• had booked

Multiple Choice

I can’t swim. –> I wish I can / could swim.

• can

• could

Multiple Choice

I should learn how to swim. –> It’s time I learned / had learned how to swim.

• learned

• had learned

Multiple Choice

Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to help us. –> I wish she was / had been able to help us.

• was

• had been able

Multiple Choice

They’re coming with us. –> I’d rather they aren’t / weren’t coming with us.

• aren't

• weren't

Multiple Choice

He isn’t a formal member of the club, unfortunately. –> If only he was / had been a formal member of the club.

• was

• had been