Past Simple

Past Simple
Past ContinuousI WISH, IF ONLY
could 1. Complete these sentences with the correct form of the verb in
brackets. Some sentences require a negative.
would
Past Perfect wishes about the future 1 Bruce wishes he...........……….. (have) more money so he could buy a new sweater.
Wishes about the present 2 I wish it …………………………………………(snow) now that it’s Christmas.
could have We use wish with would to say how we would
We use wish with Past Tense forms (Simple and
like somebody to behave in the future: 3 I wish I …….……..………………. . (be) taller so that I could be in the basketball team.
Continuous) to express regret about present
situations : X / wish you to-stop talking. 4 I wish you.…………………………………….. (stop) watching television while I am talking to you.
I wish I was taller. (= I’m not very tall) I wish you would stop talking. 5 I wish you..............……………………………… (not/do) that. It annoys me.
I wish I was going on holiday with you. (= but
I wish they would stop arguing. 6 I wish the holidays…………………………………………. (come) so we could go off to the seaside.
I’m not) We can also use this pattern in situations that do 7 I wish they.............…………………… (not/build) that block of flats right in front of our window.
I wish you were more help. (= but you’re not) not involve people:
8 Of course Tom wishes he……………………………….. (come) with us to Paris, but he has to stay
• I wish I were can replace I wish I was. To many I wish this car would go faster.
here and work.
people, I wish I were sounds more correct: 9 I wish we.............………………..(go) to the match on Saturday but we’re visiting my uncle
I wish I were taller. instead.
• We use wish with could to express a wish for a wishes about the past 10 I wish you……………………………….(keep) your mouth shut yesterday. Now Mary knows
present situation to be different:
We use wish with the Past Perfect when we have everything.
I wish I could use a computer well.
regrets about the past:
11 If only..............………………………………(not/lose) all my money. Now I’m broke.
I wish / would tell her about it. 12 Peter is always late. If only he…………………….……..…… (turn up) on time for a change!
I wish I hadn’t taken your advice. (= but I did)
I wish I could tell her about it. I wish she could have come. (= but she didn’t)

Here is a summary of patterns using wish: 2. Here are some problems in brackets. How could they have been avoided?
Use the words and phrases to help you write two sentences about each
verb form after wish time reference example(+ meaning) problem using I wish and If only.
present I wish I knew the answer. (= I don’t know)
present I wish I was/ were better at sports. (= I’m not) play fewer computer games keep calm eat less lose temper walk more
present I wish I was/were going with you. (= I’m not)
use bins watch less TV use car less often save water let someone else drive
waste water take more exercise protect forest drive carefully recycle more paper
present I wish I could give you an answer. (= I can’t) take rubbish home
future I wish you would be quiet. (= Your talking irritates me.)
past I wish I had known you then. (= but I didn’t)
past I wish I could have explained. (= I wasn’t able to)

if only 5 (People drop litter in the street.)

1 (She has gained a lot of weight.) I wish ..............................................
If only can be more emphatic than I wish. The
I wish ................................................ If only..............................................
verb forms after if only are the same as the
patterns with wish:
If only................................................ ………………………………………..
If only I had more money! (= but I haven’t) ………………………………………….. 6 (We are cutting down too many trees.)
If only I was going on holiday with you! 2 (The rivers and reservoirs have dried up.) I wish ..............................................
I wish ................................................ If only..............................................
If only you were here. (= but you’re not)
If only the sun would come out!
If only................................................ …………………………………………
If only you could be here! (= but you’re not) …………………………………………….. 7 (People use their cars when they don’t need to.)
If only I’d listened to you! (= but I didn’t) 3 (He crashed his car.) I wish ..............................................
If only he could have explained! (= but I wish ................................................ If only..............................................
……………………………………….
he wasn’t able to) If only................................................ 8 (Children don’t read enough nowadays.)
……………………………………………….. I wish ..............................................
4 (He had a row with his best friend.) If only……………………………………………
I wish ...............................................