2. WISH + PAST SIMPLE
To talk about things in the present we
would like to be different.
I wish I was better with money. I’m always
in debt.
I wish I had a car, but I can’t afford one.
I wish I could help, but I’m really busy
now.
3. WISH + PAST PERFECT,
COULD’VE
Regrets about the past. Things in the
past we would like to be different.
I wish I had invested the money instead
of wasting it.
I wish I had listened to your advice. It was
a huge mistake to buy that house.
I wish I could’ve gone with you, but I had
no time.
4. WISH + WOULD
To show you want people to behave
differently.
I wish he would be more generous. He’s
so mean!
I wish he wouldn’t spend so much money
on stupid things. Money doesn’t grow on
trees.
6. About you Things people do that
annoy you
I wish I could…
I wish I was more…
I wish I wasn’t so…
I wish I had…
(possession)
I wish…
I wish my (friends, family)
wouldn’t….
I wish (people, poticians,
your boss, etc) wouldn’t …
I wish young people today
would/wouldn’t….
7. Rewrite the sentences using I wish or should have.
1. I’d really like to have a new laptop.
2. I reget growing up in a small family.
3. I’m sorry I didn’t learn another language.
4. I’m not very sociable.
5. I regret not travelling more when I was younger.
6. I can’t cook very well.
7. I gave up doing sport a while ago and I regret
that.
8. I regret not having spent more time with my
grandad.
8. I’d really like to have a new laptop.
I wish I had a new laptop
I reget growing up in a small family.
I wish I hadn’t grown up…
I’m sorry I didn’t learn another language.
I should’ve learnt/I wish I had learnt…
I’m not very sociable.
I wish I were more sociable.
I regret not travelling more when I was younger.
I should’ve travelled/ I wish I had travelled…
I can’t cook very well.
I wish I could cook better
9. I gave up doing sport a while ago and I regret that.
I shouldnt’ve given up/ I wish I hadn’t given up…
I regret not having spent more time with my
grandad.
I wish I had spent/I should’ve spent…
10. Is there anything you regret having done
or you wish you had done differently in
your life?
