1 SPEAKING Look at the title of the article. How would you answer this question?
Answers Students’ own answers
2 In pairs, read the online article. What advice would you give to the people? wish/if only, past modals
Answers Students’ own answers
3 THINK BACK Look at the underlined examples in the text (1–5) and complete rules 1–3 below.
1 We use wish/if only +................. tense to talk about present regrets, or things we would like to change.
2 We use wish/if only +.................. to talk about how we want someone else’s behaviour to change.
3 We use wish/if only +.................... tense to talk about past regrets.
Answers 1 Past Simple 2 would 3 Past Perfect
4 Match the examples of past modals in bold in the text (a–e) with the meanings 1–5.
1 □ I did something, but it wasn’t necessary.
2 □ I didn’t do something because it wasn’t necessary (or I thought it wasn’t).
3 □ It was a good idea for me to do something, but I didn’t do it.
4 □ It wasn’t a good idea for me to do something, but I did it.
5 □ Something was a possibility, but I didn’t do it.
Answers 1 d 2 e 3 b 4 c 5 a
5 Choose the correct verb forms to complete the sentences. Sometimes both answers are correct.
1 Your room is a mess! I wish you would pick up / picked up your clothes from the floor!
2 I didn’t need to wait / needn’t have waited long for him because he arrived a couple of minutes later.
3 You should have had / needn’t have had breakfast; then you wouldn’t be hungry.
4 If only he knew / would know the truth!
5 I wish I had bought / bought her a nicer present – she looked a bit disappointed when I gave it to her.
Answers 1 would pick up 2 didn’t need to wait 3 should have had 4 knew 5 had bought
6 SPEAKING
Think of a well-known person from history. Write the regrets that he/she might have had. Discuss your ideas and guess who your partner’s person is/was.
1 He/She wishes/wished …
2 If only he/she …
3 He/She shouldn’t …
Answers Students’ own answers
