Life
Upper Intermediate Unit 8b
wish and if only
Girlfriend: OK, well, if you’re not coming, you can at
least wish me good luck!
Boyfriend: If only I could come. I really wish I didn’t
have this meeting tonight. But you know
how it is – I have to go. If only you’d told
me about it earlier, I could have asked Bob
to go in my place.
Girlfriend: I wish you’d stop lying! I know you hate
these things. If only you’d be honest about
it for once!
Presentation
Use wish and if only to talk about regrets and to describe Notice that you cannot use the same subject in both
an imaginary situation which is the opposite of the real clauses with would: I wish I wouldn’t work so hard. ✗
situation. (say If only I didn’t have to work so hard.)
I wish you wouldn’t work so hard. ✓
past simple
Use the past simple to talk about present or future past continuous
situations using a stative verb: Use the past continuous to talk about . . .
I wish / If only I had more time. (But I don’t have time.) • actions in progress at the present time: I wish / If only
I wish / If only I wasn’t / weren’t* so busy. (But I am very it wasn’t raining. (but it is raining)
busy.) • future plans and intentions: I wish / If only I wasn’t
*You can use was or were with I, he, she and it. Were is working this evening. (but I am working this evening)
more formal.
past perfect
could Use the past perfect to talk about past situations:
Use could to talk about abilities and possibilities: I wish / If only you’d told me about it earlier. (but you
I wish / If only I could read. (but I can’t read) didn’t tell me)
I wish / If only I could come with you. (but I can’t) I wish / If only I hadn’t done that. (but I did)
would
Use would to talk about a desire for someone to do
something differently or for a situation to be different.
You often use would to talk about another person’s
annoying habits or an annoying situation:
I wish / If only you wouldn’t do that. (but you insist on
doing that annoying thing.)
I wish / If only you’d stop worrying. (but you don’t stop)
1 © National Geographic Learning
Upper Intermediate Unit 8b
Exercises
Exercises
1 Write the words in the correct order to make sentences.
1 I had wish more I money I had more money, I wish.
2 if we late only hadn’t arrived If we had not arrived late only.
3 I told wish me you’d earlier You told me earlier, I wish.
4 if we could go only together If we could only go together.
5 wouldn’t I she work wish so late I wish she would not work so late.
6 only I living if wasn’t so far away If it was not so far away, I would be living only.
2 Choose the correct options.
1 I wish I knew / would know how to play golf.
2 You speak Russian so beautifully. I wish I could / would speak Russian like you.
3 I wish you came / were coming to the party this evening.
4 This film is awful! I wish I stayed / ’d stayed at home.
5 I wish they aren’t / weren’t coming. They always spoil my parties.
6 A: I’m bored!
7 B: I wish you weren’t saying / wouldn’t say that!
3 Look at the pictures and complete the people’s thoughts using the verbs in brackets.
Then listen and check.
1 I wish I could read 2 I wish it was not 3 If only I were not going
(read) Japanese. (be) so hot! (not/go) home tomorrow.
4 If only I had brought 5 I wish you would not bite 6 If only I had
(bring) my umbrella. (bite) your nails all the time! (have) enough money.
4 Complete the sentences so that they are true for you.
1 I wish I were speak more languages. .
2 I wish I could play a musical instrument. .
3 If only I wasn’t so busy tomorrow tomorrow.
4 If only I hadn’t procastinated somuch, I would have finished my homework.... .
2 © National Geographic Learning
