3. 2 I WISH, IF ONLY

Look at these six-word stories.

What does each person want to change about their life?

Wrong era, wrong class, wrong gender.

Person who wants to change his time, his social standing and his gender.

Really should have been a lawyer

Person who wants to change his profession.

Born London, lived elsewhere, died inside.

Person who wants to come back to London, where he's born.

Any chance I could start again?

Person who wants to have a new opportunity.

Worry about tomorrow, rarely enjoy today!

Person who is afraid of the future and rarely enjoy the present.

Married, TV, computer, never any flowers.

Person who wants to change his life and wish more romance.

Match sentences

with stories.

I wish I could do it again.

Any chance I could start again?

I wish I weren't so anxious.

Worry about tomorrow, rarely enjoy today!

I wish I'd stayed where I was happy.

Born London, lived elsewhere, died inside.

I wish he'd pay more attention to me.

Married, TV, computer, never any flowers.

If only I hadn't become a doctor.

Really should have been a lawyer

If only I'd been born twenty years later.

Wrong era, wrong class, wrong gender.

Match sentences

with rules.

RULE 1 Use wish/if only + past simple or wish/if only + could when you would like something to change, but it's impossible or not likely.

I wish I could do it again. I wish I weren't so anxious.

RULE 2 Use wish/if only + past perfect to talk about regrets about the past.

I wish I'd stayed where I was happy. If only I hadn't become a doctor. If only I'd been born twenty years later.

RULE 3 Use wish/if only + would to talk about things you want to happen or stop happening because they annoy you.

I wish he'd pay more attention to me.

For each pair of sentences,

complete the second sentence so that, it means the same as the first.

I'd really like to have a new laptop.

I wish I had a new laptop.

I regret growing up in a small family.

I wish I'd grown up in a large family/I hadn't grow up in a small family.

I'm not very sociable.

If only I were/was more sociable/I weren't/wasn't so unsociable.

I've got a friend who speaks too quietly. It's very annoying.

I wish he wouldn't speak so quietly/would speak louder/more loudly.

I can't get to sleep before about 2a.m.

If only I could get to sleep before 2 a.m./earlier.

I often loose my temper with people.

I wish I didn't lose my temper with people (so often).

I'm sorry I don't have my camera with me.

I wish I had my camera with me.

I can't cook very well.

I wish I could cook well/better.

I'm frustrated because it's raining.

I wish it would stop raining.

I regret not spending more time with my grandfather.

If only I'd spent more time with my grandfather.

I wish I had a new laptop.

I wish I had a new beach house.

I wish I hadn't grown up in a small family.

I wish I had grown up in a big family.

I regret growing up in a small family.

I don't regret the things I have done. I just regret the things I didn't do when I had the chance.

I wish I could cook better.

Do you? Why's that?

I don't regret the things I have done. I just regret the things I didn't do when I had the chance.

Do you? What chances have you lost?

Underline the correct alternative

in the sentences

It's difficult to work with Harry because he's quite antisocial. I wish we (?) each other more.

It's difficult to work with Harry because he's quite antisocial. I wish we liked each other more.

We're going to be late for the meal. I wish you (?).

We're going to be late for the meal. I wish you'd hurry up.

I have to take buses everywhere. If only I (?) how to drive.

I have to take buses everywhere. If only I knew how to drive.

I didn't realise it would be so cold. I wish I (?) my coat with me.

I didn't realise it would be so cold. I wish I 'd brought my coat with me.

We moved to a new flat last year, but I don't like the area. If only we (?) here.

We moved to a new flat last year, but I don't like the area. If only we didn't live here.

I never knew your father. I wish I (?) him.

I never knew your father. I wish I 'd met him.

I'd like to join a choir but my voice is awful. If only I (?) good at singing!

I'd like to join a choir but my voice is awful. If only I were good at singing!

I'm sorry but it's impossible. I wish I (?) help you but I can't.

I'm sorry but it's impossible. I wish I could help you but I can't.

Complete the sentences

using the information and the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

We live in the city and I hate it. If only we (live) in the country.

We live in the city and I hate it. If only we lived in the country.

The bus is late and my feet are killing me. I wish the bus (come) and I wish I (wear) these shoes.

The bus is late and my feet are killing me. I wish the bus would come and I wish I weren't/wasn't wearing these shoes.

I think we're lost and we don't have GPS. If only we (know) where we were. I wish we (remember) to bring our GPS.

I think we're lost and we don't have GPS. If only we knew where we were. I wish we'd remembered to bring our GPS.

The neighbours were playing loud music last night. I wish they (play) their music so loudly. If only I (sleep) better, I wouldn't feel so tired now.

The neighbours were playing loud music last night. I wish they wouldn't play/didn't play their music so loudly. If only I 'd slept better, I wouldn't feel so tired now.

I'm not very advanced because I only started learning English last year. If only I (start) learning English when I was younger.

I'm not very advanced because I only started learning English last year. If only I'd started learning English when I was younger.

You bite your nails. I wish you (bite) your nails.

You bite your nails. I wish you wouldn't bite your nails.