Wish and If-only

Wish and If-only

STRUCTURE 3

Open Ended

IF ONLY YOU HAD ONE CHANCE TO CHANGE ONE THING IN THE PAST, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHANGE?

Look at this example to see how wish and if only are used.

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​That boy is so annoying! I wish he would (he'd) stop talking.

​We can use wish/if only + a past form to talk about a present situation we would like to be different. 

• ​​​That boy is so annoying! I wish he would (he'd) stop talking.

• ​That he would stop talking is a present situation the speaker would like to be different.

• ​​​​That boy is so annoying! If only he knew how to be silent.

In the present​

Look at this example to see how wish and if only are used.

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They wish they hadn't eaten so much chocolate. They're feeling very sick now.

We can use wish/if only + a past perfect form to talk about something we would like to change about the past. 

• ​​​They wish they hadn't eaten so much chocolate. They're feeling very sick now.

• If only they hadn't eaten so much chocolate. ​

In the past​

Look at this example to see how wish and if only are used.

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​I wish I lived closer to my family.

Look at this example to see how wish and if only are used.

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​I wish they wouldn't park their car in front of my house.

We can use wish + would(n't) to show that we are annoyed with what someone or something does or doesn't do. We often feel that they are unlikely or unwilling to change.

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1. ​I wish they wouldn't park their car in front of my house.

2. ​She wishes he'd work less. They never spend any time together.

Expressing annoyance​

Multiple Choice

Choose one of the following functions of wish/if only in the following sentence

A: If only I'd studied harder when I was at school. 

• to change about the past

• to change a present situation

• to show annoyance

Multiple Choice

Choose one of the following functions of wish/if only in the following sentence

B: If only we knew what to do.

• to change about the past

• to change a present situation

• to show annoyance

Multiple Choice

Choose one of the following functions of wish/if only in the following sentence

B: I wish you wouldn't borrow my clothes without asking.

• to change about the past

• to change a present situation

• to express annoyance

Multiple Choice

If only they _____ you for advice before they started the project. You're the expert!

• would ask

• had asked

• asked

Multiple Choice

He wishes he ____ back in time and visit Ancient Rome.

• would travel

• could travel

• could have travelled

Multiple Choice

The traffic on the roads was terrible. I wish we _____ the train instead!

• would catch

• caught

• had caught

Multiple Choice

I'm not saying it again. I wish _____ when I'm talking.

• you listen

• you'll listen

• you'd listen

Multiple Choice

I'm so tired. I wish I _____ home earlier last night.

• had gone

• went

• would have gone

Multiple Choice

We're having such a lovely time in Scotland. If only it _____ all the time, though!

• hadn't rained

• had rained

• didn't rain

Multiple Choice

I wish she _____ her shoes there. I'm always falling over them.

• wouldn't leave

• left

• wouldn't have left

Open Ended

WHAT CAN YOU CONCLUDE FROM TODAY'S LESSON?

HOW DO YOU CONSTRUCT A SENTENCE USING WISH/IF ONLY? (THE FORMULA)