B2.

2
B2.2 Unit
Unit 11
IfIfonly/I
only/Iwish
wish

By Steven Davies
 Unreal
UnrealPresent
Present
What
Whatisisit?
it?
• We use the unreal present to talk about imaginary or hypothetical situations.
• We use the unreal present to talk about imaginary or hypothetical situations.
• To express something that is hypothetical or imaginary in the present, we use the past
• To express something that is hypothetical or imaginary in the present, we use the past
simple.
simple.
• A classic example of the unreal present is the second conditional.
• A classic example of the unreal present is the second conditional.
If I had a million dollars, I would buy a mansion.
If I had a million dollars, I would buy a mansion.
If I weren’t busy, I would help you.
If I weren’t busy, I would help you.
 By Steven Davies

Unreal
UnrealPresent
Present
What
Whatisisit?
it?
•For something to be hypothetical, it must be the opposite of the reality.
•For something to be hypothetical, it must be the opposite of the reality.
Examples
Examples
If I had a boat, I would sail across the ocean.
If I had a boat, I would sail across the ocean.
(I don’t have a boat, and I can’t sail across the ocean)
(I don’t have a boat, and I can’t sail across the ocean)
If I didn’t have a headache, I would go to the party.
If I didn’t have a headache, I would go to the party.
(I do have a headache, so I can’t go to the party).
(I do have a headache, so I can’t go to the party).
 Unreal
UnrealPresent
Present
IIwish
wish
We can use the unreal present (past simple) to express present regrets with the clause ‘I wish’.
We can use the unreal present (past simple) to express present regrets with the clause ‘I wish’.
I wish I had more time.
I wish I had more time.
(I don’t have more time)
(I don’t have more time)
I wish I didn’t owe so much money to the bank.
I wish I didn’t owe so much money to the bank.
(I do owe a lot of money to the bank).
(I do owe a lot of money to the bank).
She wishes she worked in an office.
She wishes she worked in an office.
(She doesn’t work in an office).
(She doesn’t work in an office).
 Unreal
UnrealPresent
Present
IfIfonly
only
We can also use ‘if only’ to express present regrets. ‘If only’ sounds stronger than I wish.
We can also use ‘if only’ to express present regrets. ‘If only’ sounds stronger than I wish.
If only I earned more money.
If only I earned more money.
(I don’t earn more money).
(I don’t earn more money).
If only Jake arrived to work on time.
If only Jake arrived to work on time.
(Jake doesn’t arrive to work on time).
(Jake doesn’t arrive to work on time).
If only she didn’t work so slowly.
If only she didn’t work so slowly.
(She does work slowly).
(She does work slowly).
 Present Regrets
Present Regrets
Present regrets are similar to present simple
Present regrets are similar to present simple
uses.
uses.

• Routines
• Routines
• Habits
• Habits
• Facts
• Facts
• Personal characteristics
• Personal characteristics
• Customs
• Customs
• Skills
• Skills
• Possesions
• Possesions
 Present
PresentRegrets
Regrets
Examples
Examples
Type of Present Regret Example
• Personal character • I wish I were smarter.
• Personal character • I wish I were smarter.
• Possession • If only I had a better car.
• Possession • If only I had a better car.
• Fact • If only I earned more money.
• Fact • If only I earned more money.
• Skill • He wishes he knew how to cook.
• Skill • He wishes he knew how to cook.
• Habit • If only she didn’t arrive late.
• Habit • If only she didn’t arrive late.
• Customs • She wishes the weekend had three days.
• Customs • She wishes the weekend had three days.
 conjugate the verbs in parenthesis to create present
conjugate the verbs in parenthesis to create present
regrets
regrets

1. He wishes that car ____________ 2. If only Mikey _____________ (play) 3. I wish I ___________ (understand)
1. Hesowishes
(cost) much that car ____________
money. 2.drums
the If onlysoMikey
loud. _____________ (play) 3. topic
this I wishbetter.
I ___________ (understand)
(cost) so much money. the drums so loud. this topic better.

4. I wish I _____________ (be) so tired 5. She wishes she ____________ (live) 6. If only I ___________ (have) a more
4. I wish I _____________ (be) so tired
today. in5.a She wishes
beautiful shelike
city ____________
this. (live) 6. If only
spacious I ___________ (have) a more
flat.
1. He wishes that car didn’t cost so 2. If only Mikey didn’t play the drums so 3. I wish understood this topic better.
1. Hemoney.
much wishes that car didn’t cost so 2. If only Mikey didn’t play the drums so 3. I wish understood this topic better.
loud.
much money. loud.

4. I wish I wasn’t/weren’t so tired today. 5. She wishes she lived in a beautiful 6. If only I had a more spacious flat.
4. I wish I wasn’t/weren’t so tired today. city
5. She
like wishes
this. she lived in a beautiful 6. If only I had a more spacious flat.
By Steven Davies
Past
PastRegrets
Regrets
Past
PastRegrets
Regrets
Verb
VerbForm
Form • While we use past simple to talk about
• While we use past simple to talk about
present regrets, we use past perfect (had
present regrets, we use past perfect (had
+ past participle) to talk about past
+ past participle) to talk about past
regrets.
regrets.
• Grammatically, we use past perfect to
• Grammatically, we use past perfect to
refer to an action that happened before
refer to an action that happened before
another past action.
another past action.
• However, in the unreal past, we use the
• However, in the unreal past, we use the
past perfect to show that the action is
past perfect to show that the action is
hypothetical/imaginary and the opposite
hypothetical/imaginary and the opposite
of what actually happened.
of what actually happened.
 Past
PastRegrets
Regrets
Usage
Usage
• When we express past regrets
• When we express past regrets
we are referring to completed
we are referring to completed
actions in the past.
actions in the past.
• It is similar to how we use the
• It is similar to how we use the
past simple, but we use the past
past simple, but we use the past
perfect verb form because we
perfect verb form because we
are expressing something
are expressing something
hypothetical.
hypothetical.
If only I had studied harder for
If only I had studied harder for
the exam.
the exam.
He wishes he hadn’t crashed his
He wishes he hadn’t crashed his
friend’s car last weekend.
friend’s car last weekend.
 Past
PastRegrets
Regrets
Examples
Examples
• I wish I hadn’t forgotten Terry’s birthday last week.
• I wish I hadn’t forgotten Terry’s birthday last week.
(I did forget Terry’s birthday last week).
(I did forget Terry’s birthday last week).
• If only she had scored the penalty in the last minute of the game.
• If only she had scored the penalty in the last minute of the game.
(She didn’t score the penalty in the last minute of the game).
(She didn’t score the penalty in the last minute of the game).
• He wishes he had gone to university when he had the chance.
• He wishes he had gone to university when he had the chance.
(He didn’t go to university when he had the chance).
(He didn’t go to university when he had the chance).
 Past
PastRegrets
Regrets
Examples
Examples
• If only I hadn’t lifted that heavy weight.
• If only I hadn’t lifted that heavy weight.
(I did lift that heavy weight).
(I did lift that heavy weight).
• I wish Paul had spoken more about his problems.
• I wish Paul had spoken more about his problems.
(Paul didn’t speak more about his problem).
(Paul didn’t speak more about his problem).
• She wishes she had taken notes during the lecture yesterday.
• She wishes she had taken notes during the lecture yesterday.
(She didn’t take notes during the lecture yesterday).
(She didn’t take notes during the lecture yesterday).
 Past
PastRegrets
Regrets
Matching
MatchingExercise
Exercise
1. I wish I hadn’t chosen that dish.
1. I wish I hadn’t chosen that dish.
2. If only I had taken the opportunity to travel.
2. If only I had taken the opportunity to travel.
3. I wish I hadn’t wasted so much time on the
3. I wish I hadn’t wasted so much time on the
internet.
internet.
4. She wishes she hadn’t shouted at her dog.
4. She wishes she hadn’t shouted at her dog.
5. He wishes he hadn’t bought that apartment.
5. He wishes he hadn’t bought that apartment.
6. If only she had set her alarm the night before.
6. If only she had set her alarm the night before.
7. I bet you wish you hadn’t driven so fast.
7. I bet you wish you hadn’t driven so fast.
a) She missed the interview the next day.
a) She missed the interview the next day.
b) I ended up feeling unwell.
b) I ended up feeling unwell.
c) It costs too much money to maintain.
c) It costs too much money to maintain.
d) Now I have a family and no time to go
d) Now I have a family and no time to go
anywhere.
anywhere.
e) You got a speeding ticket from the cops.
e) You got a speeding ticket from the cops.
f) I didn’t get the grade I needed.
f) I didn’t get the grade I needed.
g) Now she feels guilty.
g) Now sheBy
feels guilty.
Steven Davies
 Past
PastRegrets
Regrets
Matching
MatchingExercise
Exercise(Answers)
(Answers)
1. I wish I hadn’t chosen that dish. a) She missed the interview the next day.
1. I wish I hadn’t chosen that dish. a) She missed the interview the next day.
2. If only I had taken the opportunity to travel. b) I ended up feeling unwell.
2. If only I had taken the opportunity to travel. b) I ended up feeling unwell.
3. I wish I hadn’t wasted so much time on the
3. I wish I hadn’t wasted so much time on the c) It costs too much money to maintain.
internet. c) It costs too much money to maintain.
internet.
d) Now I have a family and no time to go
4. She wishes she hadn’t shouted at her dog. d) Now I have a family and no time to go
4. She wishes she hadn’t shouted at her dog. anywhere.
anywhere.
5. He wishes he hadn’t bought that apartment.
5. He wishes he hadn’t bought that apartment. e) You got a speeding ticket from the cops.
6. If only she had set her alarm the night before. e) You got a speeding ticket from the cops.
6. If only she had set her alarm the night before.
f) I didn’t get the grade I needed.
7. I bet you wish you hadn’t driven so fast. f) I didn’t get the grade I needed.
7. I bet you wish you hadn’t driven so fast.
g) Now she feels guilty.
g) Now she feels guilty.
 Present
Presentand
andPast
PastRegrets
Regrets
Exercise
Exercise11
1. I wish I hadn’t gone/didn’t go to that concert last night. It was very disappointing.
1. I wish I hadn’t gone/didn’t go to that concert last night. It was very disappointing.
2. Daniel wishes he had known/knew more people in his neighborhood. He doesn’t have many
2. Daniel wishes he had known/knew more people in his neighborhood. He doesn’t have many
friends.
friends.
3. Carla wishes she had studied/studied at a different school. She doesn’t like the one she’s at now.
3. Carla wishes she had studied/studied at a different school. She doesn’t like the one she’s at now.
4. If only Lucas hadn’t gotten/got injured before the Olympic Games.
4. If only Lucas hadn’t gotten/got injured before the Olympic Games.
5. I wish I had been/were more extroverted. I don’t feel confident speaking up in meetings.
5. I wish I had been/were more extroverted. I don’t feel confident speaking up in meetings.
6. If only Mr Jones had made/made a small compromise during the business deal last month.
6. If only Mr Jones had made/made a small compromise during the business deal last month.
7. She wishes her friend had been/were more talkative, but she’s always been introverted.
7. She wishes her friend had been/were more talkative, but she’s always been introverted.
8. I wish you had been/were happier at the ceremony. You’re usually so extroverted.
8. I wish you had been/were happier at the ceremony. You’re usually so extroverted.
 Present
Presentand
andPast
PastRegrets
Regrets
Exercise
Exercise11(answers)
(answers)
1. I wish I hadn’t gone to that concert last night. It was very disappointing.
1. I wish I hadn’t gone to that concert last night. It was very disappointing.
2. Daniel wishes he knew more people in his neighborhood. He doesn’t have many friends.
2. Daniel wishes he knew more people in his neighborhood. He doesn’t have many friends.
3. Carla wishes she studied at a different school. She doesn’t like the one she’s at now.
3. Carla wishes she studied at a different school. She doesn’t like the one she’s at now.
4. If only Lucas hadn’t gotten injured before the Olympic Games.
4. If only Lucas hadn’t gotten injured before the Olympic Games.
5. I wish I were more extroverted. I don’t feel confident to speaking up in meetings.
5. I wish I were more extroverted. I don’t feel confident to speaking up in meetings.
6. If only Mr Jones had made a small compromise during the business deal last month.
6. If only Mr Jones had made a small compromise during the business deal last month.
7. She wishes her friend were more talkative, but she’s always been introverted.
7. She wishes her friend were more talkative, but she’s always been introverted.
8. I wish you had been happier at the ceremony. You’re usually so extroverted.
8. I wish you had been happier at the ceremony. You’re usually so extroverted.
 My Regrets
My Regrets
• I wish I had saved more
• I wish I had saved more
money when I was younger.
money when I was younger.
• If only I hadn’t stopped
• If only I hadn’t stopped
playing the guitar.
playing the guitar.
• I wish I understood more
• I wish I understood more
languages.
languages.
• If only only I could fix
• If only only I could fix
things.
things.
• I wish I had more time to
• I wish I had more time to
read books.
read books.
 Regrets
Regrets
Writing
Writing
• Create a short powerpoint presentation with several regrets.
• Create a short powerpoint presentation with several regrets.
• Use the phrases I wish and If only to express your regrets.
• Use the phrases I wish and If only to express your regrets.
• Include past and present regrets.
• Include past and present regrets.
• Try to colour code your regrets so that past and present regrets are clearly identifiable.
• Try to colour code your regrets so that past and present regrets are clearly identifiable.