WISH AND IF ONLY FOR REGRETS

Wish and If only
Wish and ‘If only’ are both used to talk about regrets – things that we would like to change either about the past or the present.

Talking about the present
·         If only I didn’t have so much homework I could go to the concert tonight. She has a lot of homework and she can’t go to the concert.
·         I wish you didn’t live so far away.
·         I wish I knew what to do.
When we talk about present regrets, both wish and if only are followed by the past simple tense. The past tense emphasises that we are talking about something ‘unreal’.

Talking about the past
·         I wish I’d studied harder when I was at school. He didn’t study harder when he was at school.
·         I wish I hadn’t eaten all that chocolate. I feel sick.
·         If only I’d known you were coming.
Both wish and if only are followed by the past perfect tense when we talk about past regrets.

Wish/if only and would

We use wish + would to talk about something in the present that we would like to change – usually something that we find annoying.
·         I wish you wouldn’t borrow my clothes without asking.
           I wish it would rain. The garden really needs some water.

·         I wish you’d give up smoking. it’s really bad for you.
NB We can only use wish + would to talk about things we can’t change.
In this exercise, you will look at wishes and regrets. We wish things were different and we regret things we did in the past. So I can say "I wish I had written a letter to you last week". What sort of things do you wish and what do you regret?
Look at this table. It will help to explain the tenses we use in this exercise.
Sentence
Time
Tense
I wish I spoke Arabic (I am sorry that I don't speak Arabic)
Now
I wish (present) I spoke (past)
I wish I were/was somewhere warm and sunny (I am sorry that I am not somewhere warm and sunny)
Now
I wish (present) I was/were (past)
I wish/If only he didn't smoke (I am sorry that he smokes)
Now
I wish (present) he didn't smoke (past)
I wish he had a car (I am sorry he hasn't got a car)
Now
I wish (present) he had (past)
I wish/If only he would stop chewing gum (we use would to talk about things we would like people to (not)do) (I want him to stop chewing gum)
Now
I wish (present) he would (past)
I wish this car would start (I want this car to start)
Now
I wish (present) would start (past)
I wish I hadn't said that (I am sorry that I said that)
Past
I wish (present) I hadn't said (past perfect)
I wish I had gone to bed earlier last night (I am sorry I went to bed late last night)
Past
I wish (present) I hadn't gone (past perfect)

Observa la siguiente imagen sobre algunos ejemplos de WISH e IF ONLY


PRIMER TIPO: I WISH/IF ONLY + PASADO SIMPLE


EN ESTA ESTRUCTURA EL VERBO "WISH"  VA SEGUIDO DE UN PASADO IRREAL CUANDO QUEREMOS HABLAR SOBRE SITUACIONES EN EL PRESENTE CON LAS QUE NO SOMOS FELICES, PERO TAMPOCO LAS PODEMOS CAMBIAR. EJEMPLOS: 

I WISH I HAD MORE MONEY --- OJALÁ TUVIESE MÁS DINERO (PERO NO LO TENGO)
I WISH I COULD COME TO THE PARTY -- OJALÁ PUDIESE VENIR A LAS FIESTA (PERO NO PUEDO)

SEGUNDO TIPO: I WISH/IF ONLY + PASADO PERFECTO SIMPLE

UTILIZAMOS ESTA ESTRUCTURA CUANDO QUEREMOS HABLAR SOBRE SITUACIONES DEL PASADO CON LAS QUE NO SOMOS FELICES, O ACCIONES DE LAS QUE ESTAMOS ARREPENTIDOS. EJEMPLO:

I WISH I HADN'T SAID THAT -- OJALÁ NO HUBIESE DICHO ESO (PERO LO DIJE)
HE WISHES HE HADN'T BOUGHT THE CAR -- OJALÁ EL NO SE HUBIESE COMPRADO EL COCHE (PERO LO COMPRÓ)

TERCER TIPO: I WISH/IF ONLY + WOULD + INFINITIVO

UTILIZAMOS ESTA ESTRUCTURA CUANDO QUEREMOS PROTESTAR POR ALGO, ES DECIR, CUANDO QUEREMOS QUE ALGUIEN ABANDONE UN HÁBITO. POR EJEMPLO:

I WISH HE WOULD STOP SMOKING: OJALÁ EL DEJARA DE FUMAR(NO ME GUSTA Y QUIERO QUE CAMBIE)

Wish and If Only

Practice 1: Think carefully - are these sentences talking about the present (wish + past simple) or the past (wish + past perfect).

1.    I'm so tired. I wish I ________________to bed earlier. (go)
2.    I feel sick. I wish I _________________all those chocolates. (not eat)
3.    My boyfriend's still at the office. I wish he __________________such long hours. (work)
4.    I'm really busy. If only I __________________more time. (have)
5.    I can't speak any languages. I wish I ____________________German. (speak)
6.    My hair looks terrible! If only I ________________it red. (dye)
7.    Oh no - it's raining. I wish I ______________my umbrella. (remember)
8.    Kids love Christmas. I wish I still ___________in Father Christmas. (believe)

Practice 2: Now you need to decide if you are making a wish about an impossible present state (wish + past simple), a past state or action (wish + past perfect), or a present habit or future possibility (wish + would + verb).

Rewrite these sentences with 2-5 words, using the word given in brackets.

1.    She's always noisy. I really don't like it. (MAKE)
I _____________________so much noise.
2.    I want my boss to give me a pay rise. (WISH)
I _________________me a pay rise.
3.    I hate travelling so far to my office. (LIVED)
If ____________________nearer my office.
4.    I feel bad because I kissed my best friend's girlfriend last night.(WISH)
I ___________________my best friend's girlfriend.
5.    You are always borrowing my clothes without permission. Please stop it! (YOU)
I ___________________________my clothes without asking.
6.    I'm 15 and all my friends go to parties. My parents never let me go to any parties. (LET)
If _____________________________me go to parties.


En estos links podrás consultar más información para aclarar dudas sobre este tema.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa4fTVzsqyU
http://www.tinyteflteacher.co.uk/learningenglish/grammar/exercises/wish.html









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