I wish/if only: past and present

Mariam is a student at second year baccalaureate physics. Mariam didn’t want to study physics, it was her
father’s decision she wanted to study letters because she loves poetry and novels, and she always says: I wish I had
studied letters. Now when she is in scientific classes she wishes she were in a class of Arabic or English. Mariam is not
good at math, if only she were good at math that way she could get a good mark.

Questions:
a. What does Mariam study? What did she want to study?
b. Does Mariam likes what she studies?
c. Is she good at maths? Does she enjoy her scientific subjects? Why?

Wishes in the past

Use: we talk about a situation in the past, and we wish it was different but we can’t do anything to change it

Form: If only+ subject+ had+ past participle

Subject + wish+subject+ had+ past participle

Examples: Mariam chose physics, but she wanted to study letters

If only she had chosen letters

Mariam wishes she had chosen letters

Wishes in the present:

Use: to express hope or wish for impossible situations in the present

Form: if only+ subject+ verb in the simple past

Subject+ wish+ subject+verb in the simple past

1. Mariam doesn’t like to study math, she wants to study poems

Mariam wishes she studied poems

If only Mariam studied poems

2. Mariam is not good at math

Mariam wishes she were good at math

If only Mariam were good at math

Exercise one: fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb

a. I’m not tall.=> if only I ………………..(be) tall

b. I’m short. => If only I ………………(be-not) short.

 c. Youssef wants to see his friend now => youssef wishes he………………….(see) his friend

d. Salma didn’t do well in the exam=> If only Salma ……………………(do) well in the exam.

e. We didn’t watch the match=> we wish we……………………(watch) the match.

f. I can’t play handball => I wish I …………………………..(can) play handball.

g. Adam was driving fast and had an accident=> if only Adam……………………..(not-drive) fast.

h. Jacob didn’t go to school when he was a kid.=> Jacob wishes he……………………( go) to school.

i. It’s raining, I don’t like rain. => I wish it …………………..(not-rain)

Exercise two: rewrite the following situations as wishes

a. I don’t speak Japanese, and I want to speak it.

if only I………………………………………………………………………………………………

b. Anna had a toothache, she didn’t see the dentist yesterday.

Anna wishes she………………………………………………………………………………………………

c. Yassine didn’t take a taxi, he arrived late to work.

if only Yassine………………………………………………………………………………………………

d. Sarah doesn’t have a sister, she wants a sister .

Sarah wishes ………………………………………………………………………………………………

e. I want to sleep and the kids are making noise outside, I want them to be quiet
if only the kids………………………………………………………………………………………………

f. Ossama can’t play piano, he wants to play it.

Ossama wishes………………………………………………………………………………………………

g. Khadija didn’t have time, and she didn’t answer all the exam questions.
If only khadija………………………………………………………………………………………………

h. Asmaa didn’t attend her friend’s party, the party was great, she regrets not attending it.
Asmaa wishes………………………………………………………………………………………………