Explanations Wishes + Wishes about the present For wishes about the present we use / wish + the past simple. The time referred to is an imaginary present. I wish I knew the answer to this question. (1 do not know the answer.) I wish I didn’t have so much work to do, (I do have a lot of work.) + Wishes about the past For wishes about the past we use / wish + the past perfect. The time referred to is past time I wish I had gone to your party last week. (I did not go.) + Wishes about the future We can use could to refer to a future event, J wish June could meet me next week We also use could to refer to something that is generally difficult or impossible wish I could drive. L wish I could contact him, but I don't have my mobile phone with me, We can also use have to to refer to a future event. Jwish I didn’t have to get up early tomorrow. m Wishes using would When we want to complain about a bad habit we use I wish + would I wish Peter wouldn't chew gum all the time. We also use / wish + would to refer to something that we would like to happen, T wish the police would do something about these people! Ifonly We can replace / wish with [only for emphasis. Ifonly I knew the answer to this question! If only I had gone to your party last week! In speech, only is often heavily stressed. Its time - ‘The construction it's time Iyou/we ... is followed by a past tense. Sorry, but its time we went home. ‘The meaning here is similar to a second conditional. Ifwe went home, it would be better High can be added for extra emphasis. It's high time you learned to look afier yourself! - Its time can also be used with the infinitive. The meaning changes slightly. Hs time you started work! (you are being lazy and not working) Its time to start work (@ simple statement of fact)Tdrather Suppose and imagine GRAMMAR & WISHES AND RELATED FORMS The construction /'d rather Iyow/we ... is followed by a past tense. I'd rather you didn't tell John about this. The meaning here is similar to a second conditional. Ifyou didn't tell John about this, it would be better In informal speech we can use suppose or imagine in place of iff The construction is a normal second conditional ‘Suppose you lost your keys. What would you do? Imagine you were rich. How would you feel? 45FIRST CERTI CATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE Practice Underline the most suitable verb form in each sentence. a) I wish Peter doesn't liveldidn' livewouldn't live so far away from the town centre, We'll have to take a taxi b) I feel rather cold, 1 wish I broughthhad brought my pullover with me, ©) What a pity. T wish we don't have to/didn't have to/wouldn't have to leave. 4) wish you fellMold’had told me about the test. I haven't done any revision. ©) I wish the people next door hadn't made/wouldn't make/couldn't make so mud noise. I can't hear myself think! 1) Darling, I love you so much! I wish we are/had beenwould be/could be together always! 8) I'm sorry I missed your birthday party. I really wish I come/came/had comeswould come. 1) T like my new boss but I wish she gavewould give/could give me some more responsibility, i) Having a lovely time in Brighton. I wish you are/vere/had been here. i) This car was a complete waste of money. I wish I didn't buy/hadn't bought it 2 Put each verb in brackets into a suitable verb form. 4) This train journey seems endless! I wish we (go) had — gone__ly b) I wish I (have) the money to buy some new clothes, but I can’t afford any at the moment c) I wish the government (do). something about the pollution in the city 4) I'm getting really soaked! I wish I (not forget) my umbrella ¢) T wish you (not do), that! It's a really annoying habit £) That was a lovely meal, but I wish I (not eat) 50 much, g) Iwish I (study), harder for my exams. I'm not going to pass by Iwish you (not leave). your dirty shoes in your bedroom! ’) I'm affaid I have no idea where Diana has gone. I wish I (know) 4) T really enjoyed our trip to the theatre. T wish we (go) more often.GRAMMAR & WISHES AND RELATED FORMS Underline the most suitable verb form in each sentence. a) A cheque is all right, but I'd rather you pay/paid me cash, ) Imagine you liverlived in New York. How would you feel? ©) only I haverhad/would have a screwdriver with me. 4) If you want to catch the last train, it's time you leave/left ©) Td rather you don'tididn't tell anyone about our conversation. ) I've got a terrible headache. If only I didn’t drink/hadn't drunk that wine. 8) If you don't mind, Td sooner you practised/had practised’would practise your violin somewhere else, h) It’s high time you learm/learned to look after yourself, i) Jean thinks that everyone likes her. If only she knows/new what people say behind her back! j) Pd rather we stay/stayed at home this Christmas for a change. Look carefully at each line, Some of the lines are correct, and some have a word which should not be there. Tick each correct line. Ifa line has a word which should not be there, write the word in the space. Losing your memory Imagine it that one day you woke up and i discovered that you had completely lost your ce memory, How would you have feel exactly? » Thave thought about this recently after I was 2) involved in a traffic accident. I woke up in 3) hospital, and said to myself 'It's the time I 4) got up and have went to school!’ I soon realised 5) my mistake. A nurse came in and asked to me 6) what my name was. I thought about it for a ” moment and then said, 'I would wish I knew!" 8) Then | tried to get up. ‘I'd rather prefer » you didn't do that,’ said the nurse, ‘Don't worry 10) you'll have it your memory back soon.’ 1) ‘Lwish you hadn't have said that," I replied 12) "Now I am really worried! If I hadn't looked 13) in my wallet, I wouldn't have been known my 14) own name!” Unfortunately my memory soon came 15) back, and I realised I had a maths test the next day! aFIRST CERTIFICATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE 48 Put each verb in brackets into @ suitable verb form, a) What can we do to get in touch with Robert? If only we (know) knewhis phone number b) Come on children! It's time you (be) in bed. ©) Actually I'd rather you (not smoke) in here. 4) Suppose you (see). a ghost, What would you do? ©) I'm so annoyed about my car accident. If only I (be) more careful! 1) I's high time you (start) working more seriously. g) I'd rather you (not put) your coffee on top of my book. h) I've no idea where we are! If only we (have) a map. i) Your hair is rather long. Don't you think it's time you (have) a haireut? i) Visiting museums is interesting, but I'd sooner we (go). swimming. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. between two and five words, including the word given a) It would be nice to be able to fly a plane. could L wish 1 could Pt. b) Please don't eat in the classroom. Vd rather, ©) I think we should leave now. I think it's 4) What a pity we ate all the food. only ie ©) It's a shame we don't have a video. wish l £) Don't shout all the time, it's so annoying! wouldn't L You must use a plane classroom all the food a video shout all the timeKey points 1 GRAMMAR & WISHES AND RELATED FORMS 2) I don't want you to buy me a present. Ta. buy me a present. h) I don't like being so tall. wish 1 so tall. i) We ought to start work now. started Ws. work, i) T regret not going to university, had L to university. Wishes about the present use a past tense form, and wishes about the past use @ past perfect form, Wishes with would refer either to annoying habits or to something we would like to happen Past tense forms are used after J's time and I'd rather to show an imaginary situation, Ws time we lef J hope .. can be used in a similar way to wish. But I hope is used only for wishes that are actually possible, and it usually has a good meaning. J hope you have a good time. There's a tot to see. I hope you won't be late. Wish cannot be used in this way. Thope .. can be used with the infinitive, J hope to see you next week But wish with the infinitive has a different meaning. It is a formal way of saying I'd like to (or { want to). I wish to interview you for the job next week. Note also these expressions: Fish you luck/success in your new job. We wish you a happy New Year. 49