Wish + Past Simple

 To express that we want a situation in the present (or future) to be different.

Examples:

I wish I ate more vegetables. (I don’t eat more vegetables.)

He wishes he had a new house. (He does not have a new house.)

They wish it were August. (It isn’t August.)

I wish I had a bigger car. (Because my car is too small).

I wish it were the summer holidays (but it isn’t – I’m still at school).

Wish + Past Continuous

  To express that we want to be doing a different activity in the present (or the
future).

Examples:

I wish I was playing badminton now. (I’m studying English.)

I wish it weren’t raining now. (It is raining now.)
I wish you were coming to my party next week. (You are not coming to my party
next week.)

Wish + Past Perfect

 This wish grammar structure expresses regret. This means we want to be able
to change a situation in the past.

Wish sentences:

They wish they hadn’t lost the photo. It was a really good one. (They lost the
photo.)
I wish I hadn’t done it. (I did it.)
He wishes he had studied more for their exam. (They didn’t study more for their
exam.)
He wishes he had studied harder when he was at school. (He didn’t study hard
enough – perhaps if he had studied harder he would have gone to university.)
They wish they hadn’t scored that goal! (They scored a goal and as a result they
probably won’t win the match).

Wish Exercise 1
I wish things were different! Make sentences using 'wish' + past simple about the
things I don't like. You can put in 'that' if you want, or leave it out.
1) I don't have a car. (I wish I had a car)

2) She can't play the piano.

3) I'm at work.

4) It's winter.

5) I'm ill.

6) I don't have new shoes.

7) He can't afford to go on holiday.

8) I don't have time to read lots of books.

9) She can't drive.

10) My laptop is broken.

The Second Conditional

The second conditional uses the past simple after if, then 'would' and the infinitive:

 if + past simple, ...would + infinitive

(We can use 'were' instead of 'was' with 'I' and 'he/she/it'. This is mostly done in formal
writing).

It has two uses.

First, we can use it to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to be true.
Maybe I'm imagining some dream for example.

 If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.(I probably won't win the lottery)

Second, we can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because
it's not true. Is that clear? Have a look at the examples:

 If I had his number, I would call him. (I don't have his number now, so it's
impossible for me to call him).

Second Conditional Exercise 1

Complete the gaps with the corresponding form.

1) If I ___________ (to be) you, I _____________(to get) a new job.

2) If he ____________ (to be) younger, he __________(to travel) more.

3) If we ____________ (not/to be) friends, I __________ (to be) angry with you.

4) If I _____________ (to have) enough money, I __________(to buy) a big house.

5) If she ____________(not/to be) always so late, she __________(to be) promoted.

6) __________ we _________ (to travel) around the world If we ________(to win) the lottery?

7) If you _________(to have) a better job, _________ we ________(to be) able to buy a new car?

8) If I ___________(to speak) perfect English, I ___________(to have) a good job.

9) If we __________(to live) in Mexico, I ____________(to speak) Spanish.

10) If she _________(to pass) the exam, _______she _______(to be) able to enter to a university?

11) She __________(to be) happier if she ____________(to have) more friends.

12) We __________(to buy) a house if we __________(to decide) to stay here.

13) They ____________(to have) more money if they ____________(not/to buy) so many clothes.

14) We ________________(not/to come) to dinner if we ______________(not/to have) time.

15) She _____________(to call) him if she ___________(to have) his number.

16) They ____________(to go) to Spain on holiday if they ____________(tolike) hot weather.

17) She ______________(to pass) the exam if she _____________(to study) more.

18) Would you _____________(to marry) anyone famous if you_________(to be) a movie star?

19) We ____________(not/to be) late again if we ____________(to buy) a new car.

20) You ____________ (to lose) weight if you _________(to eat) less.

21) If I _____________(to be) you, I ___________ (to get) a new job.