Wishes and Regrets

Wishes and Regrets

WISH FOR PRESENT/FUTURE

We can use wish + subject + past simple to talk
about things that we would like to be different in
the present or future (but which are very
unlikely or not possible).

I wish things were different, but this is the way
they are.
We wish we had enough money to help you.
I wish I could be there for you tomorrow.

WISH FOR PRESENT/FUTURE

We can use wish + person/thing + would + infinitive
when we talk about situations that annoy us and we
would like them to change, or to stop.

●

I wish you would stop biting your nails. I hate it
when you do it.

●

I wish it would stop raining. Itʼs been three days!

We CANNOT use this structure to wish about ourselves
(do NOT use I wish I would)

WISH FOR PAST REGRETS

We can use wish + subject + past perfect to talk about
things that happened in the past and that we regret
(we would have wanted them to be different).

●

I wish I hadnʼt quit my job two years ago.

●

I wish we hadnʼt wasted all that money.

WISH FOR PAST REGRETS

We can use if onlyinstead of I wish with a very similar
meaning. It is used to express deep regret in certain
situations.

●

If only you had followed my advice.

Note that we can use were instead of was with I/he/she
after I wish/if only.

Multiple Choice

I wish I ____ come to the zoo with you next weekend, but I’m going to be busy.

• had

• could

• wil

Multiple Choice

I’m sorry I made you angry. I wish I ____ shouted at you.

• wouldn’t

• hadn’t

• weren’t

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is NOT correct?

• I wish could do that!

• I wish you wouldn’t do that.

• I wish I were stronger.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• I wish we live in a bigger house.

• I wish you wouldn’t keep shout at me!

• I wish you wouldn't always arrive so late. I'm tired of always waiting for you!

Multiple Choice

5. Your colleague talks a lot and you don’t like it. What could you say?

• I wish he had been quiet!

• I wish he is quiet!

• I wish he would be quiet!

Multiple Choice

What CANNOT go in the space?

He’s really handsome! I wish I ___ ten years younger!

• were

• would be

• was

Multiple Choice

Your computer isn’t working. What could you say?

• I wish this computer was working!

• I wish this computer had worked!

• I wish this computer works!

Multiple Choice

You want to go to Sally’s party, but you can’t. What can you say?

• I wish I would go to your party.

• I wish I went to your party.

• I wish I could go to your party.

• I wish I had gone to your party.

Multiple Choice

You saw a great cellphone on sale but you didn’t have enough money. The next day, you go to the shop. It has been sold. What do you say?

• I wish I’d had more money with me yesterday!

• I wish I had more money with me yesterday!

• I wish I would have more money with me yesterday!

• I wish I bought the phone yesterday!

Multiple Choice

Your friend keeps hitting you. What do you say?

• I wish you’d stop doing that!

• I wish you stopped doing that!

• I wish you’d stopped doing that!

• I wish you wouldn't stop doing that!

Multiple Choice

I wish I _______ a better job. I don’t enjoy this kind of work.

• had

• had had

• would have

• would had

Multiple Choice

I’m starving. I wish I _______ breakfast this morning.

• ate

• would eat

• had had

• would had eaten

Fill in the Blank

You'd like to have a cat but you're allergic to animals.

I wish I _________________ allergic to animals.

Fill in the Blank

You want to go away for the weekend but you've got lots of homework.

I wish I _____________ so much homework.

Fill in the Blank

You didn't go to the meeting and you lost the contract.

I wish I ______________ to the meeting.