I WISH and IF ONLY

GRAMMAR EXPLANATION
WISHES about present events: WISH + past simple I am not very tall . I wish I were taller My father only speaks Spanish. He wishes he spoke English or French WISHES about past events: WISH + past perfect We couldn't attend the meeting. We wish we had attended the meeting. I rained so hard that the party was cancelled. I wish it hadn't rained WISHES about future events: WISH + would/could (use always when talking about annyoing habits) He leaves his clothes on the floor and his room is a mess. I wish he tidied up after himself Mr. Urban wants to have an interview with you. He wishes you would meet him next week IF ONLY is used to make emphatic wishes: I can't restart the computer. If only I knew how to fix it! We are completely lost. If only you had brought your GPS!

EXERCISES:
Complete the sentence with the correct tense of the verb in brackets.
1. We always have to take the bus home. I wish we (not live) 2. We are completely soaked. I wish we (bring) 3. He is always whistling. I wish he (not do) the umbrella that all the time here so far from the city centre

4. We are having a wonderful holiday on the beach. I wish you (be) 5. This computer is useless. I wish my parents (choose)

a better one when they bought it her more

6. She's got a new job but she feels bored. She wishes her boss (give) responsibility. 7. He's sorry he missed the wedding ceremony. He wishes he (go) 8. I wish my neighbours (not make) 9. Citizens wish their leaders (start)

so much noise. I can hardly sleep at night doing something to improve the economic situation more and more

10. They have lots of money. Even so, they wished they (have)

Write a sentence using "wish"

1. I ate too much and now I have stomachache.

2. His parents would like him to look after himself

3. I can't smoke anywhere now. The anti-smoking law is so restrictive! If only 4. It's a pity we don't own a boat, I love sailing.

5. My pupils keep talking in class all the time and I can't handle it.

6. Visiting the museum was interesting but it would have been nicer to go to the beach

7. Next Christmas I would like to stay at home for a change next Christmas 8. He never brings me flowers on our anniversary

9. I failed all my exams. I should have studied harder. If only 10. I don't like being so tall

Look at these pairs of sentences: 1. If I spoke Spanish, I could work in Zaragoza. I wish I spoke Spanish. 2. If I didn't smoke, I'd be healthier. I wish I didn't smoke. 3. If I had worked hard, I would have passed my exams. I wish I'd worked hard. 4. If I hadn't said that to her, we mightn't have split up. I wish I hadn't said it. Exercise 1 - Now answer these questions: yes no 1. Do I speak Spanish? Do I regret this? 2. Do I smoke? Do I regret this? 3. Did I work hard? Do I regret this?

4. Did I say that to her? Do I regret this? We use the 'I wish' construction to talk about regrets - when we would like something which isn't true to be true, or vice-versa - we would like something that is true, not to be true. Note that 'if only' has the same meaning, but is stronger. Click and Drop - Where you see this sign, mouse over for instructions Exercise 2 - Complete these grammar rules and ideas 1. You regret (are sorry about) a present situation I wish + present simple - past simple - past perfect

This construction is similar to the if clause in a first - second - third 2. You regret (are sorry about) a past situation I wish + present simple - past simple - past perfect

conditional

This construction is similar to the if clause in a first - second - third

conditional

Exercise 3 - Make sentences starting with 'I wish'. For this exercise only use negative contractions. Don't use any punctuation. You may have to change some words. 1. We forgot to buy sugar

2. I'd like us to be on a beach somewhere

3. We can't afford a new washing machine

4. I called him a liar

5. I'd like to have a Mercedes

6. I didn't buy any coffee

I wish I was ... or I wish I were ...? Traditionally when talking about unreal situations, English used a form called the Subjunctive. In Past simple this is identical to the Indicative (normal) tense forms except where the first and second persons singular of the verb to be are involved. And in Past perfect it is completely identical. To be Indicative Past simple I he, she, it we, you, they Past continuous I he, she, it we, you, they Past perfect All persons had been had been had worked had worked was being was being were being were being were being were being was working was working were working were working were working were working was was were were were were worked worked worked worked worked worked Subjunctive Other verbs Indicative Subjunctive

So EFL grammar books tend to just talk about 'the unreal past', and treat the first and second persons singular of the verb to be as a sort of exception. But in fact we are using subjunctive for all the unreal forms without realising it, because it's the same as the indicative. Or rather, we were using it! It is becoming increasingly common for people to use 'was' rather than 'were' in these cases, so that it becomes even more logical to talk about this as the 'unreal past', rather than the subjunctive. For many people (me included) 'were' sounds rather formal, but there are others who consider 'were' as being more correct. It is one of the great controversies in English, and is included in Wikipedia's list of 'Disputes in English Grammar'. As far as EFL is concerned, both are correct, 'was' probably being used more in normal speech. Last year, for example, the Egyptian tourist authorities ran an advertising campaign in the UK; 'I wish I was in Egypt', as you can see here. But be aware that if you need to write something like a formal essay, 'were' will probably be expected. I wish I could ... / If only I could ... These constructions fall into the category of regrets about the present, could being the past of can, and we are regretting a present situation

Exercise 4 - Make sentences starting with 'I wish'. For this exercise don't use any contractions or punctuation. 1. I can't dance.

2. We can't afford to go skiing this year.

3. He can't help me.

4. They can't come for Christmas.

Can we have regrets about the future? Look at this sentence:

If it was sunny tomorrow, we could have a picnic.

Exercise 5 Yes 1. Will it be sunny tomorrow? 2. Are we talking about a fact we know to be true? 3. Are we talking about a hypothetical situation? 4. Can we regret this? We cannot regret a hypothetical situation, only something which is or is not true. Therefore we cannot say:

No

Don't know

I wish it was sunny tomorrow.

But we can regret things that we know are going to happen, or are pretty sure are going to happen. In this case we would use the past form of whatever form we'd use for the future. Exercise 6 - Make sentences starting with 'I wish' + a past form of the form given. For this exercise only use contractions for negatives and don't use any punctuation. Use the words in brackets, where given. Keep it informal. In the last question, we know because we've heard the weather forecast. 1. We're working late next week

2. They're going away tomorrow

3. The train leaves very early in the morning (so early)

4. We have to get up at the crack of dawn

5. It's going to rain tomorrow

Wishes about something certain in the future Note 1 - Use I wish + the past form of the form we usually use for future certainties - going to, present continuous or have to Note 2 - We only use I wish + past simple where we would have used present simple for the normal future, in other words for scheduled or timetabled events Note 3 - We don't use I wish + would to speak about regrets about the future. This is partly because we don't normally use will to talk about certainty in the future. And partly because I wish + would has a different meaning, which we shall see in the next section. Wishes about something hypothetical in the future When we want something hypothetical to happen in the future, we use 'I hope' + a normal tense rather than 'I wish' + past tense

I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow. I hope it rains coffee in the fields. (Juan Luis Guerra - Ojal que llueva caf) I hope I don't have to work at the weekend.

Exercise 7 - Hypothetical or real? Choose the correct option. 1. I go to that concert tomorrow, but it's sold out.

wish we could - hope we can 2. I

still get tickets for that concert tomorrow.

hope we can - wish we could 3. I

as rude to me this time as he was the last time we met.

wish he wasn't - hope he isn't 4. I

so rude to me every time we meet.

hope he isn't - wish he wasn't 5. I

stop making that noise. It's really annoying.

wish you would - hope you will 6. I

making that noise soon. It's getting on my nerves.

hope she stops - wish she stopped 7. I

late this time. We've quite a long way to go.

wish she wasn't - hope she isn't 8. I

always so late.

hope she isn't - wish she wasn't 9. I

lying on a beach somewhere this time next week.

hope we will be - wish we were 10. I

lying on a beach somewhere right now.

wish we were - hope we will be I wish you wouldn't do that! Look at these sentences 1. I wish she wouldn't smoke the whole time. 2. I wish he'd help around the house more. 3. I wish it would stop raining. 4. I wish the car would start in the morning. Exercise 8 - Now answer these questions: Yes 1. Does she smoke the whole time? Does this annoy me? 2. Does he help around the house much? Would I like him to help more? 3. Is it raining? Would I like it to stop? No

4. Does the car start in the morning? Does this annoy me? We use I wish / If only + would when we want someone to behave differently from how they normally behave, or to change their habits. We can also use it with certain things, such as machines and the weather. Exercise 9 - Make sentences starting with 'I wish' + 'would'. For this exercise only use contractions for negatives and don't use any punctuation. Use the words in brackets, where given. 1. He never irons his own shirt.

2. She takes ages in the bathroom. (such ages)

3. The dog doesn't do what it's told.

4. He's always leaving his things everywhere.

5. She's taking a long time. (hurry up)

6. The light's flickering (stop)

I do wish you'd do something about it! As well as using 'if only', we can emphasise 'I wish' by adding 'do', which we stress:

I do wish I was rich. I do wish I hadn't said that. I do wish you would shut up once in a while.

Some people (especially young people) also use 'so' to emphasise

I so wish I hadn't said that.

We can also ask other people about their regrets and wishes, often with a negative.

Don't you wish you could just get away from it all sometimes? Do you sometimes wish you had spent more time working and less time partying when you were at university? I certainly do! Look at that car! Don't you just wish you had a car like that? Don't you wish people wouldn't be so rude?

Oh I do wish the sun would come out, don't you?

To sum up We use I wish / If only in 3 ways: 1. With a past form (usually but not always past simple) to talk about regrets about the present 2. With past-perfect to talk about regrets about the past 3. With would when you want somebody (or a machine or the weather etc) to behave in a different way, usually because their behaviour annoys you to some extent. Bringing it all together Exercise 10 - Choose the correct answer. 1. I wish I beer so much. But I do.

didn't like - hadn't liked - wouldn't like 2. They wish they were going - would go 3. If only she

abroad instead of staying at home.

away my winning lottery ticket.

didn't throw - hadn't thrown 4. I wish she

sometimes before she borrowed my things.

had asked - would ask 5. He wishes he

less nervous at the interview yesterday.

was - had been - would be 6. I do wish they did - would do 7. He wishes he

something about this road. It's really dangerous.

so fast when the police saw him.

wasn't driving - hadn't been driving - wouldn't drive 8. She wishes she

so rude to her mother yesterday.

wasn't - hadn't been - wouldn't have been 9. If only you

leaving tomorrow.

weren't - wouldn't be 10. I do wish it wasn't - wouldn't be 11. I hope - wish 12. I hope - wish Related posts Unreal Past - I'd rather etc,suppose and imagine, as if and as though, it's time etc Songs with I wish / If only

Monday tomorrow.

it won't rain tomorrow.

the weather was going to be better tomorrow. But the forecast is pretty bad.

Kate Nash - Nicest thing - Google

o o o

I wish my smile was your favourite kind of smile I wish the way that I dressed was your favourite kind of style I wish you couldn't figure me out

K.T.Tunstall - If only - Google

o o o

If only you could see me now If only you could hear me out If only it was only me now.

Boxcar Racers - I feel so - Google

o o o

I wish I was brave I wish I was stronger I wish I could feel no pain

Pearl Jam - Wishlist - Google

o o o

I wish I was an alien at home behind the sun I wish I was the souvenir you kept your house key on I wish I was the pedal brake that you depended on

Niall Boyle - I Wish You Wouldn't Do That - Google Juan Luis Guerra - Ojal que llueva caf - YouTube

Conditional Exercise 1 If / When

Complete each sentence below with the BEST answer, then click the "Check" button to check your answers. 1. I am late to work, my boss gets very angry. That is why I am always on time. 2. I leave work, I usually go to the fitness center to work out. 3. he eats, he tries to choose healthy foods. 4. His car is very reliable, and he rarely has any trouble with it. But he has had a couple of difficulties in the past. his car breaks down or he has any problems, he calls the auto club. 5. His car is terrible! It always breaks down. his car breaks down or he has any problems, he calls the auto club. 6. Mary gets six weeks paid vacation a year. She loves to travel. she goes on vacation, she always goes somewhere exotic. 7. Diane works harder than anyone I know. I don't think she has taken a day off in three years. But she does really love to travel. she goes on vacation, she goes somewhere exotic. 8. He loves going to the movies. he goes to the movies, he always gets a large popcorn with tons of butter. 9. She hates TV. She thinks television is a waste of time. she watches any television at all, it is usually a documentary or a news program. 10. My friend always keeps in touch by mail. I get a letter, I usually write back immediately.

Did you hear about that guy who won 180 million dollars in the lottery? If I (win) (quit) my job the next day. I (travel) anything, I (buy) around the world and (stay) it. If I (see)

that much money, I in the most a beautiful Mercedes full, I (buy)

luxurious hotels. If I (want) that I wanted, I (buy)

it. If I wanted to stay in a beautiful hotel and the hotel (be)

the hotel and make them give me a room. I (can)

do anything in the world if I had 180 good things with the

million dollars ... Oh, I am starting to sound a little materialistic... Well... I (do) money as well. If anybody (need) (donate) help, I (give)

them some money to help them out. I money to help support the arts. If I (win) as many people as possible.

money to charities. I (give)

that much money, I wouldn't keep it all for myself. I (help)

Michael: Sharon, I am having some problems at work, and I was wondering if you might be able to give me some advice. Sharon: Sure, what's the problem? Michael: The computer sales business is more difficult than I thought. When customers (come) look at the new computer models, they often (ask) me to suggest a model, I (be) in to

me which model they should buy. If they (ask) usually quite honest with them. Most computer users

don't need a very advanced computer; they just need a basic model which they can use for word-processing, bookkeeping and Internet access. If I am honest and I (recommend) one of the cheaper models, my

boss (get) angry at me. He always says that a good salesperson can convince a customer to buy one of the more expensive advanced models. I don't really feel comfortable doing that. What would you do in my situation? Isn't it wrong to make them buy something which they don't need? Sharon: I think you should help your customers make an intelligent decision. If I (be) the customers. I (teach) you, I (educate)

them how to make a good decision by themselves. I (make, not)

the decision for them. When a customer (ask) a question, answer it honestly. You don't need to lie to the customer, and you don't need to make the decision for them. Michael: When I (sell) an inexpensive computer to a customer, my boss (complain) am not trying hard enough. What would you tell him? that I

Sharon: If I (be) in your situation, I (tell) him that I wasn't comfortable forcing customers to buy products which they don't need. Tell him that you don't want to lie to honest people, and that you want to provide them with good service. Remind him that when customers (get) to a store and spend more money. Michael: I think that's a great idea. He (might) (realize) advice. change his mind if I said that to him. Maybe he good service, they (return)

that good service is the most important thing to consumers. And, of course, I (feel) much more comfortable if I (be) able to be honest with the customers. Thanks for your