Unit 9
Unreal past forms for present wishes
● We use (wish or If only + Past Simple) to express wishes about the present that are impossible or unlikely to happen.
I wish I knew the answer.
I wish we lived in a bigger flat.
● With the verb to be, both (was and were ) can be used with (I, he, she, and it).
He wishes he was/were taller.
If only we were older.
Test yourself.
- I don't know the answer.
I wish ...................................................
- I live in a small flat.
I wish ...................................................
If only ..................................................
- He is not tall enough.
He wishes ...........................................
He wishes ...........................................
- We aren't old enough.
If only ................................................
If only .................................................
- I am not very good at maths.
I wish .................................................
- It is very cold outside.
If only ................................................
Answers:
1. I wish I knew the answer.
2. I wish I lived in a bigger flat.
If only I didn't live in a small flat.
3. He wishes he were taller.
He wishes he weren't short.
4. If only we were older.
If only we weren't younger.
5. I wish I were better at maths.
6. If only it weren't very cold outside.
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Unreal past forms for past regrets
● We use wish or If only + Past Perfect to express regrets about the past.
● We might use it to reflect on past actions if we are trying to improve our work or our behaviour.
● The tense of the verb after (wish) is more in the past than the action it is describing.
- I wish I had done more work for my exam. (I didn't do much work for my exam.)
- I wish I hadn’t bought these shoes. They hurt my feet. (I bought these shoes .)
- We’re late. If only we’d caught the earlier bus. (I didn't catch the earlier bus.)
Some possible changes.
Didn’t + v-inf =======è had + v3
V2 =======è hadn't + V3
was/ were =======è hadn't been
wasn’t / weren't =======è had been
should have + V3 =======è had + V3
shouldn’t + have + V3 ======è hadn't + V3
regret V-ing =======è hadn't V3
regret + not + v-ing =======èhad + v3
very /too/ really == ======è so
very well =======è better
much == =====è more
adj + enough =======èadj + er / more + adj
Test yourself.
1. I didn't do much work for my exam.
I wish ............................................................................
2. I bought these shoes. They hurt my feet.
I wish...............................................................................
3. We didn't catch the earlier bus. We're late.
If only ...............................................................................
4. I am very hungry! I wish I had eaten before I went to the conference.
I am very hungry! I...................................................................................
Answers:
1. I wish I had done more work for my exam.
2. I wish I hadn't bought these shoes.
3. If only we'd caught the earlier bus.
4. I am very hungry! I didn't eat before I went to the conference.