Expressing wishes and regrets and preference in English

1. EXPRESSING WISHES AND REGRETS
1. - WISH+PAST SIMPLE =when we express a wish about a present situation.
I wish I knew the answer (But I don´t know the answer)
NOTICE HOW WE USE THE PAST TENSE, ALTHOUGH WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NOW!
*After wish you can use was or were with I/he/she/it
I wish I was/were rich like you (but I´m not)
I wish the weather wasn´t/weren´t so wet here. (but it is wet)
What does the old man see in the mirror? What is he thinking?
 If you could change something in your body, what would it be?
 If you could change something about your personality, what would you change?
 If you could change anything about your job, what would it be?
 If you could change something about you partner, what would it be?

2.  If you could change something about your life, what would it be?
 If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
2.-WISH+PERSON/THING+WOULD=to talk about things we want to happen or stop happening because they annoy
us. (Annoying habits)
I wish the waiter would hurry up.
I wish you wouldn´t leave your bag everywhere.
Speaking Practice:
 What annoys you about living where you live now?
 What annoys you most about living at home with your family?
 What annoying habits does your bestfriend have?
 What is the mostannoying thing about your partner?
 Is there anything about your teacher that annoys you?

3. 3.-WISH+PAST PERFECT= to express a regret about the past.
She wishes she had never bought those shoes (but she did)
I wish you had told me the truth (but you didn´t)
WE CAN USE IF ONLY INSTEAD OF I WISH IN ALL THESE STRUCTURES.
I wish he could drive =If only he could drive.
I wish you would stay longer= if only you would stay longer.
I wish you had told me the truth =If only you had told me the truth.
Do you think he has any regrets?

4. Speaking Practice: Think about the time you were a teenager. Do you have any regrets:E.g. I wish I had studied
German.
4.- SHOULD HAVE+PAST PARTICIPLE/SHOULDN´T HAVE+ PAST PARTICIPLE = to express a regret about the past.
I´m running out of battery on my mobile. I should have recharged it this morning.
I´m so tired today. I should have gone to bed earlier last night.
EXPRESSING PREFERENCE IN ENGLISH
A.I´d rather+ infinitive without to = when the subject of “rather” and that of the
infinitive is the same. I´d rather drive to work.
B.I´d rather+ SIMPLE PAST= if the subjects are different. I´d rather YOU didn´t smoke.
C.It´s (high/about) time +to+ infinitive: to say something has to be done now or in the
near future but we don´t specify the subject. It’s time/high time/abouttime to go.
D.It´s (high/about )time +past simple : to say something has to be done now or in the
near future and we mention the subject. It’s time/high time/abouttime we went.