The document discusses the use of past tense verbs like "had", "were", "could", and "would" when expressing regrets about past situations or wishes about the future. It provides examples of using "if only" with the past perfect and using "wish" with the past perfect, past simple, and modal verbs like "could" and "would" depending on whether the subject is the same or different between the main and subordinate clauses.

1. WISH / IF ONLY C/ San Rafael, 25 46701-Gandia Tfno. 962 965 096 [email_address] www.escolapiasgandia.es COLEGIO ESCOLAPIAS GANDIA A REGRET IN THE PRESENT IN THE PAST ABOUT A SITUATION / ABOUT THE FUTURE We use PAST SIMPLE PAST PERFECT COULD/WOULD + Base form If only I had enough time She wishes (that) her brother were* here I wish we had stayed longer Doesn´t she wish he had kissed her before? I wish I could pass my driving test My mother wishes I would* enjoy a healthy lifestyle * We use WERE in all the cases, even 1st & 3rd singular * When the subject of Wish is the same as the one of the verb = COULD If they are different, we use WOULD

2. FOREIGN LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT Copyright Colegio Escolapias Gandia info@escolapiasgandia.es www.escolapiasgandia.es