Unit 5, Lesson B

Grammar extra
Use of wish with would
• You can use wish followed by a clause with would in order to comment on a situation you would
like to change.
You're always leaving the lights on! I wish you wouldn't leave the lights on.
Why can't the kids spend less money on soda? / wish the kids would spend less money on
soda.
errors
• You can Don't confuse wish and I
comment hope this information
on general
situations using people or they in the clause with would.
I wish they'd stop tearing down the historic buildings in our neighborhood.
I wish people would learn to recycle their bottles and cans.
Common

A Comment on the situations below. Write sentences with I wish + a clause with would.
1. You use so much water! T wish yoq W0'ddR4 •ase so
wa4er!
2. You never recycle your newspapers.

3. Why don't people use public transportation more?

4. Why can't people be more polite on the bus?

5. They need to do something about water pollution.

6. People are always throwing their litter on the streets.

B Write five sentences about situations you would like to change. Begin each sentence with I
wish and include would or wouldn't.

Strong wishes with If only

 • You can use If only to introduce a strong wish, which is either difficult or impossible to achieve.
The verb forms that follow If only are the same as those that follow I wish.
I wish people were more generous. If only people were more generous.
I wish people would care about the homeless. If only people would care about the homeless. I
wish we could predict the future. If only we could predict the future.
• In writing, add a main clause to a sentence with if only.
If only people cared more about the homeless, we might eradicate the problem.
If only we could predict the future, we would all be a lot richer.
errors
Don't confuse if onlyand only if.
I would miss work only if I were sick. OR I would only miss work if I were sick (NOT *would-miss-work-if-enb++-tye-stde.)
Common

A Use If only to rewrite these thoughts as strong wishes. Some have more than one answer.
l. Why can't we find a way to end all wars? T we coq(d WA o end
2. I don't know why people don't recycle more!
3. People are so narrow-minded about some things.

4. I wish we could predict natural disasters better.

5. I wish they would create more jobs for the unemployed.

6. I wish I hadn't quit myjob.

About

B Write five strong wishes of your own. Use If only.