Explanations
Wishes Wishes about the present
For wishes about the present we use / wish + the past simple.
The time
referred to is an imaginary present.
I wish I knew the answer to this question. (I do not know the
answer.) I wish I didn't have so much work to do. (I do have
a lot of work.)
Wishes about the past
For wishes about the past we use / wish + the past perfect. The
time referred to is past time.
I wish I had gone to your party last week. (I did not go.)
Wishes about the future
We can use could to refer to a future event.
/ wish June could meet me next week. We also use
could to refer to something that is generally difficult or
impossible.
/ wish I could drive.
I wish I could contact him, but I don't have my mobile
phone with me. We can also use have to to refer to a future
event.
J wish I didn't have to get up early tomorrow.
m Wishes using would
When we want to complain about a bad habit we use I wish +
would.
I wish Peter wouldn't chew gum all the time. We also
use / wish + would to refer to something that we would like to
happen.
I wish the police would do something about these people!
If only We can replace / wish with If only for emphasis.
If only I knew the answer to this question! If only I had gone to
your party last week! In speech, only is often heavily stressed.
1. Underline the most suitable verb form in each sentence.
a) I wish Peter doesn't live/didn't live/wouldn't live so far away from the town
centre. We'll have to take a taxi.
b) I feel rather cold. I wish I brought/had brought my pullover with me.
c) What a pity. I wish we don't have to/didn't have to/wouldn't have to leave.
d) I wish you tell/told/had told me about the test. I haven't done any revision.
e) I wish the people next door hadn't made/wouldn't make/couldn't make so mud
noise. I can't hear myself think!
f) Darling, I love you so much! I wish we are/had been/would be/could be
together always!
g) I'm sorry I missed your birthday party. I really wish I come/came/had
come/would come.
h) I like my new boss but I wish she gave/would give/could give me some more
responsibility. i) Having a lovely time in Brighton. I wish you are/were/had been
here. j) This car was a complete waste of money. I wish I didn't buy/hadn't bought
it.
2. Put each verb in brackets into a suitable verb form.
a) This train journey seems endless! I wish we (go) ..had gone by
car.
b) I wish I (have) the money to buy some new clothes,
but I can't afford any at the moment.
c) I wish the government (do) something about the
pollution in the city.
d) I'm getting really soaked! I wish I (not forget) my
umbrella.
e) I wish you (not do) that! It's a really annoying habit
f) That was a lovely meal, but I wish I (not eat) so
much.
g) I wish I (study) harder for my exams. I'm not going
to pass.
h) I wish you (not leave) your dirty shoes in your
bedroom! i) I'm afraid I have no idea where Diana has gone. I wish I
(know)
j) I really enjoyed our trip to the theatre. I wish we (go) more
often.
1. If only I have/had/would have a screwdriver with me.
2. I've got a terrible headache. If only I didn't drink/hadn't drunk that wine.
3. Jean thinks that everyone likes her. If only she knows/knew what people say
behind her back!
4. What can we do to get in touch with Robert? If only we (know) _____his
phone number.
5. I'm so annoyed about my car accident. If only I (be) _______more careful!
6. I've no idea where we are! If only we (have) a map.
7. It would be nice to be able to fly a plane. - (could) - I wish I could fly a plane.
8. What a pity we ate all the food. - If ________all the food.
9. It's a shame we don't have a video. - I ___________ a video.
10. Don't shout all the time, it's so annoying! - I wish _______________ all the
time!
11. I don't like being so tall. - I __________________ so tall.
12. I wish I had gone to university. - rewrite with regret and should.
Key points 1 Wishes about the present use a past tense form, and wishes about the
past use a past perfect form.
2 Wishes with would refer either to annoying habits or to something we
would like to happen.
