This document discusses different ways to express wishes, regrets, and complaints in English using various verb tenses. It explains that using "I wish + subject + past simple" expresses wishes suggesting regret about the present, "I wish + subject + past perfect" conveys wishes or regret about the past, and "I wish + subject + would" is used to wish for a change in the future. Examples are provided for each construction. Additionally, alternative ways to express wishes, complaints, and things one would like using "I would like" or "should/should have" are covered.

1. Wishes, regrets and complaints

2. I WISH + SUBJ + PAST SIMPLE I wish I were rich! ( I’m sorry I’m not rich ) I wish we could see each other more often I wish we didn’t live in this terrible place! To express wishes, suggesting the speaker is sorry about something You use the PAST SIMPLE tense as with conditional 2. (If I were rich I would live in a big house)

3. I WISH + SUBJ+ PAST PERFECT I wish I had never married him! If only I had studied harder when I was at school ( but I didn’t ). I wish you hadn’t told me your secret. These examples express wishes or regrets about the past. The past perfect is used in the same way as in conditional 3 ( If I had never married him I wouldn’t have suffered so much )

4. I wish + subject+ WOULD I wish you wouldn’t make so much noise! If only they would stop that terrible noise! I wish it would stop raining! To express wishes for a change in the future and suggest that the speaker is angry about/ tired of the present situation.

5. I WISH + SJ+ PAST SIMPLE I WISH + SJ + PAST PERFCT I WISH + SJ+ WOULD wishes for the present or future regrets complaints

6. I would like to have a bigger room in my residence My sister isn’t home anymore, and I feel lonely without her. If I had a car, I wouldn’t have to take the train every morning My job is very far from home. I’m sorry I can’t come with you to the mountains You never help me with housework!

7. Our teacher speaks too loudly He should be more polite to his parents She should have told us the truth We should have brought sun cream for the children. (Their backs are extremely red). I didn’t study languages, and that’s a pity! He wasn’t here last night to defend our position in the meeting