• Author / Uploaded
• Ekaterina Dzhantova

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How to Use Wish Wishes about the present or future Wish + (that) + past simple: We can use “wish” to talk about something that we would like to be different in the present or the future. It's used for things which are impossible or very unlikely. •

I wish that I had a big house (I don't have a big house, but it's a nice idea!).

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I wish that we didn't need to work today (we do need to work today).

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I wish that you lived close by (you don't live close by).

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I wish that John wasn't busy tomorrow (he is busy, unfortunately).

(“were” instead of “was” can also be used after wish in the same way as with the second conditional. •

I wish I were rich or I wish I was rich.)

Wishes about the past Wish + (that) + past perfect: We can use “wish” with the past perfect to talk about regrets from the past. These are things that have already happened, but we wish they’d happened in a different way. This use of “wish” is very similar to the third conditional. •

I wish that I had studied harder at school. (I didn't study hard at school, and now I'm sorry about it.)

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I wish that I hadn't eaten so much yesterday! (But I did eat a lot yesterday. Now I think it wasn't a good idea.)

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I wish that the train had been on time. (But the train was late, and so I missed my interview.)

If only can be more emphatic than I wish • If only I had studied harder at school. (I didn't study hard at school, and now I'm truly sorry about it.) I.

Make sentences using “wish” + past simple about the things I don’t like. You can put

in “that” if you want, or leave it out. Example: I am cold. → I wish I wasn’t cold. 1. I don’t have a car. __________________________________________________________________

2. I can’t play the piano. __________________________________________________________________ 3. I’m at work. __________________________________________________________________ 4. It’s winter. __________________________________________________________________ 5. I’m ill. __________________________________________________________________ 6. I don’t have new shoes. __________________________________________________________________ 7. I can’t afford to go on holiday. __________________________________________________________________ 8. I don’t have time to read lots of books. __________________________________________________________________ 9. I can’t drive. __________________________________________________________________ 10. My laptop is broken. __________________________________________________________________

II.

Make sentences using “wish” + past simple or past perfect.

1. I don’t know the answer. → I wish _____________________________________________ 2. I’m not good at sports. → I wish _______________________________________________ 3. I’m not going with you. → I wish ______________________________________________ 4. I can’t give you an answer. → I wish ____________________________________________ 5. Your talking irritates me. → I wish _____________________________________ (be quiet) 6. I didn’t know you then. → I wish_______________________________________________ 7. I wasn’t able to explain that rule. → I wish ______________________________________ 8. You are constantly talking. → I wish _______________________________________(stop) 9. They are arguing! → I wish_______________________________________________(stop) 10. The car is going too slow. → I wish ______________________________________(faster) 11. I took your advice. Now I regret it. → I wish_____________________________________

12. She wasn’t able to come. → I wish ____________________________________________ 13. I haven’t got much money! → I wish_____________________________________(more) 14. I’m not going on holiday with you! → I wish_____________________________________ 15. You aren’t here! What a shame! → I wish ______________________________________ 16. There is no sun! → I wish the sun___________________________________(come out)! 17. I didn’t listen to you. I regret it now. → I wish ________________________________

ANSWER KEY I. 1. I wish (that) I had a car. 2. I wish (that) I could play the piano. 3. I wish (that) I wasn’t at work. 4. I wish (that) it wasn’t winter. 5. I wish (that) I wasn’t ill. 6. I wish (that) I had new shoes. 7. I wish (that) I could afford to go on holiday. 8. I wish (that) I had time to read lots of books. 9. I wish (that) I could drive. 10. I wish (that) my laptop wasn’t broken.

II. 1) I wish I knew the answer. (= I don’t know) 2) I wish I was /were better at sports. (= I'm not) 3) I wish I was /were going with you. (= I'm not) 4) I wish I could give you an answer. (= I can't) 5) I wish you would be quiet. (= Your talking irritates me.) 6) I wish I had known you then. (= but I didn't) 7) I wish I could have explained. (= I wasn't able to) 8) I wish you would stop talking. (= Your talking irritates me.) 9) I wish they would stop arguing. (= Their arguing irritates me.) 10) I wish this car would go faster. (=The car is going too slow.) 11) I wish I hadn't taken your advice. (= but I did)

12) I wish she could have come. (= but she didn't) 13) I wish I had more money! (= but I haven't) 14) I wish I was going on holiday with you! 15) I wish you were here. (= but you’re not) 16) I wish the sun would come out! (= but it’s gloomy) 17) I wish I'd listened to you! (=but I didn't)