How to

express…

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 I wish/If only
There are three distinct types of I wish / if
only sentences (*If only can be more
emphatic than I wish):

1. Wish, wanting change for the present or future

with the simple past.
e.g. Homer wishes he had more money.

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 Now , it’s your turn….

This is your car, so you think

I wish my car __________ faster. have

I wish ____ __________ a new car. be

I wish ____ __________ a Ferrari. drive

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 Let’s check them, please.

This is your car, so you think

I wish my car _was/were___ faster. have

I wish _I__ _had/drove_ a new car. be

I wish _I__ _drove/had_ a Ferrari. drive

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 2. Regret about the past with the past perfect.

e. g. I wish I had been to yesterday’s party. (Truth: I didn’t

go)

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 Now, you, please:

I graduated from a university which was good, but …

I wish ___ ____________ at Harvard University. go

I wish ___ ____________ from Harvard. graduate

I wish ___ ____________ to Boston when I was 18. study

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 Now, us, please:

I graduated from a university which was good, but …

I wish _I_ _had studied_ at Harvard University. go

I wish _I_ _had graduated__ from Harvard. graduate

I wish _I_ _had gone____ to Boston when I was 18. study

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 3. Complaints (it annoys you) with would + verb.

e.g. I wish you would lock the door when you left home. (He
never does!)

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 Guess whose turn it is!

My brother/sister/partner never helps with housework at

home.

I wish _____ ______________ more at home. help

I wish _____ ______________ the washing. not make

I wish _____ ______________ a mess in the kitchen. do

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 And guess whose turn it is now!

My brother/sister/partner never helps with housework at

home.

I wish _he/she_ _would help_ more at home.

I wish _she/he_ _would do__ the washing.

I wish _they_ _wouldn’t make__ a mess in the kitchen.

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 In conclusion:

1. Expressing a wish about the present or future

The simple past here is an unreal past.
Form:
If only / I wish + simple past

e.g. If only I knew how to use a computer. (I don’t

know how to use a computer and I would like to learn
how to use it)

Use “was” or “were” for I, he, she, it:

e.g. I wish I were a millionaire! Or I wish I was a
millionaire! (Truth: I’m not.)

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 2. Expressing a regret: The action we are talking
about is PAST and we can’t change the past!!!

Form:
If only / I wish + past perfect

e.g. I wish/If only I had woken up early.

(I didn't wake up early and I missed my bus, so
my boss called me to his office. He said that
next time, he would fire me).

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 3. Complaining about another person’s
behaviour that you disapprove, expressing
annoyance with a present action. You want a
change.
Form:
If only / I wish + Subject (different from I)
+ would+verb
e.g.
-I wish you wouldn't arrive so late all the time.
(I'm annoyed because you always come late and
I want you to arrive on time)
-She wishes he would tell her “I love you” more
often. (She wants him to tell her “I love you”
more often which he doesn’t).
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 More about wishes about the present (in case
you need or want to know, if not go to slide 16
and test yourself)

We use “wish” with past tense forms (simple and

continuous) to express regret about present
situations:
-I wish I was taller = (I’m not very tall: it’s
impossible to change that)

-I wish I was going with you = (but I'm not)

-I wish you were more help. = (you are not)

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 … I wish I were can replace I wish I was.
To many people, I wish I were sounds more
correct: I wish I were taller.

Also, we can use wish with could to express a

wish for a present situation/ability/possibility
to be different:
I wish I could use a computer well.

I wish I could tell her about it.

(X I wish I would tell her about it) Why?
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 Stirred, not shaken!

1. I wish it _________________ (stop) raining. I want to play tennis.

2. I wish I __________________ (be) much smarter.
3. I wish we __________________ (have) a million euros in the bank.
4. I wish I __________________ (meet) you when I was a child.
5. I wish she ___________________ (not blow)her nose like that. It’s
disgusting.
6. I wish I __________________ (play) the piano.
7. I wish one of us __________________ (live) in Japan. It would be
cheaper to go there, but neither of us lives there .
8. You wish … What do you wish?

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 Answers:

1. I wish it __would stop__ (stop) raining. I want to play tennis.

2. I wish I __was / were___ (be) much smarter.
3. I wish we _______had________ (have) a million euros in the bank.
4. I wish I _______had met____ (meet) you when I was a child.
5. I wish she _____wouldn’t blow___ (not blow)her nose like that. It’s
disgusting.
6. I wish I __could play / played____ (play) the piano.
7. I wish one of us _____lived______ (live) in Japan. It would be cheaper
to go there, but neither of us lives there.
8. You wish … What do you wish? Your own answer, of course!

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