Wishes

If we express a wish it is, generally speaking, to show that we are not satisfied with circumstances, we regret past actions or we hope for changes in the future. There are three   constructions , with the verb “to wish”  or the expression “ if only” , which are normally used to express our wishes , regrets and hopes:

                 Examples:

• They are at work, but they’d prefer to be on holiday

They wish they were on holiday (now).

If only we were on holiday (now)!.

• He is sorry he doesn’t know how to swim.

He wishes he knew how to swim.

If only I knew how to swim!.

• I’m sorry my sister isn’t here with us now.

I wish my sister were here now

If only my sister were here now!.

N.B. I/he/she/it were , rather than was , after to wish and if only.

Exercise

Examples:

• My pupils are always chewing gum and I’d like them to stop.

I wish they wouldn’t chew gum all the time.

If only they wouldn’t chew gum all the time!.

• Bobby hasn’t arrived yet .His mother is worried about him.

She wishes he would come.

If only he would come !.

• They are sorry that their boss won’t give them a holiday.

They wish their boss would give them a holiday.

If only our boss would give us a holiday!.

Exercise

Examples:

• He ate a lot of cakes at tea-time and he feels ill.

He wishes he hadn’t eaten so many cakes at tea-time.

If only I hadn’t eaten so many cakes at tea-time!.

• They are sorry they didn’t have enough time to visit all the museums when they were in Paris.

They wish they had had time to visit all the museums.

If only they had had time to visit all the museums!.

• We couldn’t play tennis yesterday because , unfortunately , it rained.

We wish it hadn’t rained yesterday.

We wish it hadn’t rained yesterday!.

Exercise