If only
Warm up
Watch the video and say what people are talking about.
Grammar point
Study the table.
| Type | Structure | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present wishes | wish + past simple | Used to express a wish about the present that is unreal or impossible. | I wish I had more free time. (But I don’t.) |
| Past regrets | wish + past perfect | Used to express regret about something that happened (or didn’t happen) in the past. | I wish I had studied more for the exam. (But I didn’t.) |
| Future wishes | wish + would + base verb | Used to express frustration or a desire for something to change in the future (often about other people or situations). | I wish he would stop talking so loudly. |
| Impossible wishes | wish + could + base verb | Used to express regret or desire about something that is not possible. | I wish I could fly. (But I can’t.) |
Study the usual mistakes
| Type | Correct Structure | Common Mistake | Explanation | Example (Correct) | Example (Incorrect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present wishes | wish + past simple | Using present simple | The past simple is used to talk about unreal present situations. | I wish I had more free time. | ❌ I wish I have more free time. |
| Past regrets | wish + past perfect | Using past simple instead of past perfect | The past perfect is required to talk about past regrets. | I wish I had studied more. | ❌ I wish I studied more. |
| Future wishes | wish + would + base verb | Using “wish + will” | “Would” is used, not “will,” because the wish is about an external situation. | I wish he would stop talking. | ❌ I wish he will stop talking. |
| Impossible wishes | wish + could + base verb | Using “wish + can” | “Could” is needed instead of “can” for unreal or impossible situations. | I wish I could fly. | ❌ I wish I can fly. |
Let’s speak!
What can we regret? Look at the list and add something else. What could you say in each case? E.g.: I wish I were more patient – about a personality.
- about your appearance;
- about the place you live in;
- about your personality;
- about your behaviour in the past.
Practice
Express your wishes or regrets as if you were in the following situations:
- You are not tall enough.
- You live in a very cold place.
- You don’t have any coffee.
- You forgot the keys home.
- You argued with your parents a lot when you were a child.
Look at the pictures. First, describe them, then make a sentence expressing your regrets about the past or wishes about the future.
What can we regret when thinking about holidays?
Use the phrases below to make sentences.
Reading
Read the pieces of news about celebrities and make sentences using “regret” construction.
Rapper Mudiwa Hood was embarrassed at The Style Orade Awards when he volunteered to receive an award on behalf of Jah Prayzah and accidentally broke the gong on stage.
Jennifer Lopez suffers an embarrassing wardrobe mishap as she flashes underwear in slit dress.
When Kelly Clarkson asked Tom Hanks if he gets embarrassed when recognized, he admitted that he’s had much worse fan encounters. “It’s better than the other stuff they yell at you!” he said. ” ‘Wilson!’ I get a lot of that. ‘Brace for impact!’ Anything that landed in a movie.”
Self-check: Wish & Regret Quiz
Check yourself: do the quiz and see the explanations afterwards.
See the explanations
Wish & Regret Quiz
Part 1: Multiple Choice
- Which sentence correctly expresses a present wish?
✅ b) I wish I had more time.
❌ a) I wish I have more time. (Incorrect— “have” should be in the past simple.)
❌ c) I wish I will have more time. (Incorrect— “will” is not used after “wish.”)
Explanation: When talking about present wishes, we use “wish + past simple” to express unreal situations. - Which sentence expresses regret about the past?
✅ c) I wish I had studied harder for the test.
❌ a) I wish I studied harder for the test. (Incorrect— “past perfect” should be used for past regrets.)
❌ b) I wish I would study harder for the test. (Incorrect— “would” is for future wishes, not past regrets.)
Explanation: For past regrets, we use “wish + past perfect” (had + past participle). - Which sentence is incorrect?
✅ b) I wish I can go to the party.
Explanation: It should be “I wish I could go to the party” because “could” is used for impossible or hypothetical situations. - What does this sentence express? I wish you wouldn’t interrupt me all the time.
✅ c) A complaint about an annoying habit.
Explanation: “Wish + would” is often used to complain about something someone else does regularly. - Which sentence correctly expresses a future wish?
✅ a) I wish it would stop raining.
❌ b) I wish it stops raining. (Incorrect— “wish” is never followed by present simple.)
❌ c) I wish it has stopped raining. (Incorrect— “wish” is not followed by present perfect.)
Explanation: “Wish + would” expresses a desire for a future change.
Part 2: Fill in the Blanks
- I wish I had learned Spanish when I was younger.
Explanation: “Wish + past perfect” is used for past regrets. - She wishes she had not eaten so much cake yesterday.
Explanation: “Had not eaten” (past perfect) expresses regret about the past. - I wish he were more patient with me.
Explanation: “Were” is used instead of “was” in unreal wishes. - They wish they could travel to Japan next year.
Explanation: “Could” is used instead of “can” because the wish is hypothetical. - I wish you would stop complaining all the time!
Explanation: “Wish + would” is used to express annoyance with someone’s behavior.
Part 3: Error Correction
- ❌ I wish I will get a promotion.
✅ I wish I would get a promotion.
Explanation: “Wish + will” is incorrect; use “would” for future wishes. - ❌ He wishes he can play the piano.
✅ He wishes he could play the piano.
Explanation: “Can” should be “could” to indicate an impossible or hypothetical situation. - ❌ I wish I didn’t forget my keys at home.
✅ I wish I hadn’t forgotten my keys at home.
Explanation: “Wish + past perfect” (had + past participle) is needed for past regrets. - ❌ She wishes she would speak French fluently.
✅ She wishes she spoke French fluently.
Explanation: “Wish + past simple” is used for present wishes, not “wish + would.” - ❌ I wish I study harder for my final exams.
✅ I wish I studied harder for my final exams.
Explanation: “Studied” (past simple) is needed for present wishes.