1) We use wish + past simple or past continuous to say that we want something

to be different from how it is now.

I wish (1)
I wish… The present situation: Sarah has blue eyes.
Wish: Sarah wishes she had brown eyes.
2) After if and wish we normally use were rather than was with I/she/he/it/
I wish it weren’t so hot today.

1) Complete these wishes with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
1. I wish I __________ Chinese. (speak) 5. I wish my holidays ________ longer. (be)
2. I wish I __________a smartphone. (have) 6. I wish I ___________________near a factory. (not live)
3. I wish we ________ swim better. (can) 7. Do you wish you ____________ French? (study)
4. I wish I __________to a bigger school. (go) 8. I wish we______________study PE at school. (not have to)

2) Complete the thought bubbles with the 3) Write sentences with I wish. Use the underlined
correct form of the verbs given below. words to help you.
be / can / wear / not be / fit / understand
1. I can’t ride a horse. _____________________________
2. My parents don’t have a fast car.
________________________________________________
3. I live in a small flat. ____________________________
4. It isn’t sunny today._____________________________
1. I wish I 2. I wish I 3. I wish I
5. I’m not good at sports. __________________________
____ a coat ______ ______buy
taller. this car. 6. My brother and I argue all the time.
________________________________________________
7. I can’t stay up and watch this movie.
________________________________________________
8. I share the bedroom with my brother.
________________________________________________
4. I wish I 6. I wish
5. I wish I the sweater
___________ ______ so
this question. ______ me. 5) Choose an option and write a wish. Give a reason
tired.
beginning with because then…
1. can play the guitar / can play the violin
4) Complete the sentences with I wish and a
______________________________________________
suitable verb.
2. be a film star / be a politician
1.__ I wish I were __better at History. ______________________________________________
2. ____________________ so much homework. 3. speak Japanese / speak Italian
______________________________________________
3. ____________________ in a bigger house.
4. live in England / live in Singapore
4. ____________________ Mary’s address.
______________________________________________
5. ____________________ German really well.
6. ____________________ enough money for
that dress. 6) Tell your partner about the following.

7. ____________________ an English test 1. a school subject you wish you could give up
tomorrow. 2. something you wish you had enough money to buy
8. ____________________ as famous as 3. someone you wish you met at the moment
Brad Pitt.
4. some place you wish you were at the moment
9. ____________________ tennis as well as
Roger Federer. 5. the appearance you wish you had

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KEY
Ex. 1)
1 spoke 2 had 3 could 4 went 5 were
6 didn’t live 7 studied 8 didn’t have to

Ex. 2)
1 wore 2 were 3 could 4 understood 5 weren’t 6 fitted

Ex. 3)

1. I wish I could ride a horse.

2. I wish my parents had a fast car.
3. I wish I didn’t live in a small flat.
4. I wish it were sunny today.
5. I wish I were good at sports.
6. I wish my brother and I didn’t argue all the time.
7. I wish I could stay up and watch this movie.
8. I wish I didn’t share the bedroom with my brother.

Ex. 4)
Possible answers.
2. I wish I didn’t have…
3. I wish I lived ….
4. I wish I knew …
5. I wish I spoke / could speak …
6. I wish I had …
7. I wish I didn’t have …
8. I wish I were …
9. I wish I played / could play …

Ex. 5)
Students’ own answers.
Example: 1. I wish I could play the violin because then I could play in our school orchestra.

Ex. 6)
Students’ own answers.

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