Wishes, Regrets

and Preferences
 WISH

Wish allows us to express desires about something

unreal.

1. To talk about something that we want or someone

else wants in the present or future + but we don’t
have it.
wish simple present + past simple clause

She wishes + She had more free time.

(she doesn’t have more time)

I wish + I was/were on holiday right now.

(I’m not on holiday)
 WISH
Another way to express our own wishes is using the
expression IF ONLY
IF ONLY + past simple clause

If only + I had more free time!

(I don’t have more free time)

WARNING!

• Do not use IF ONLY with other subjects, only

with the first person ( I ) .
• Use were as the singular past form of be (HE
SHE IT and I).
 WISH

2. To talk about something that happened in the

past and we would want to change it. We regret
the event.

wish simple present + past perfect clause

I wish + I had listened to my parents
when I was young.
(I didn’t listen to them and now I regret it)

Other way to say it…

If only + past perfect clause

If only + I had listened to my parents!
 WISH

3. To talk about something that annoys us. We

regret the event.

wish simple present + would & verb in base form

I wish + you would be more careful
with your clothes!
(I’m annoyed because you’re not careful with it)

4. We often use could after wish to talk about something

we would like to do but we can’t.
wish simple present + could & verb in base form

I wish + I could help you.

To sum up…
 Let’s
practice!
Preferences…

PREFER
WOULD PREFER
WOULD RATHER
 PREFER

To talk about our general preferences we can

use:
Prefer simple present + noun/gerund
I prefer coffee.
I prefer getting gifts.

**gerunds can work as nouns.

Prefer simple present + FULL INFINITIVE +

rather than + BARE INFINITIVE
I prefer to watch movies + rather than go to a
bar.
 WOULD PREFER

To talk about what someone wants in a particular

situation:

Would prefer + FULL INFINITIVE + rather than

+ BARE INFINITIVE

I would prefer to go out + rather than stay in bed.

He would prefer to travel abroad + rather than

spend money in a new car.

Carlos and Susan would prefer not to go to the

party + rather than go.
 WOULD RATHER

To talk about what someone wants in a particular

situation:

Would rather + BARE INFINITIVE + than +

BARE INFINITIVE

I would rather go out + than stay in bed.

He would rather travel abroad + than spend

money in a new car.

Carlos and Susan would rather not go to the

party.
Let’s practice!
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the comparative
adjective.

1. I would rather (learn) French than Spanish.

2. I would prefer (have) dinner late tonight.
3. Would you rather (drive) a car or a motorcycle?
4. She would rather (live) with her parents than alone.
5. Would you prefer (stay) in or go out?
6. Would you rather (make) dinner or go out to a
restaurant?
7. They would prefer (play) soccer all day instead of
studying.
8. I would prefer (watch) a movie.
9. Would you rather (eat) hotdogs or hamburgers?
10. I would rather (wear) a dress than pants.
Answers

1. I would rather learn French than Spanish.

2. I would prefer to have dinner late tonight.
3. Would you rather drive a car or a motorcycle?
4. She would rather live with her parents than alone.
5. Would you prefer to stay in or go out?
6. Would you rather make dinner or go out to a
restaurant?
7. They would prefer to play soccer all day instead of
studying.
8. I would prefer to watch a movie.
9. Would you rather eat hotdogs or hamburgers?
10. I would rather wear a dress than pants.
Thanks!