| wish, if only hes about the present We use wish with Past Tense forms (Simple and Continvous) to express regret about present situations (se also 5 1 wisi 1 was taller. (= Ym not very tall) 1 wish I was going on holiday with you, (= but Tm not) T wish you were more help. (= but you'te not) + Twish 1 were can replace I wish I ws. To many people, [wish I were sounds more correct: 1 wisi I were aller + We use wish with could to express a wish for a present situation to be diferent wish 1 could use a computer well. X List won tel her abt YL wish J eould tll her about it Here is a summary of patterns using wish: enon oo Past Simple present Past Simple present Past Continuous present could present woud fire ast Perfect past could have past if only {only can be more emphatic than I wish. The verb forms after if only are the same as the patterns with wish: only | had more money! (= but I haven't) If only | was going on holiday with you! If only you were here. (= but you're not) If only the sun would come out! If only you could be here! (= but you're not) If only Td listened ro you! (= but I didn't) If only he could have explained! (= but he wasn't able to) wishes about the future ‘We use wish with would to say how we would like somebody to behave in the future: X bevish-you-to-stop talking. I wish you would stop talking. x Y Iwish they would stop arguing. + We can also use this pattern do not involve people: wish this car would go faster. situations that wishes about the past We use wish with the Past Perfect when we have regrets about the past: T wish I hadm't taken your advice. (= but I did) wish she could have come. (= but she didn't) Soon) I wish I knew the answer. (= I don't know) | Lwish 1 was/were better at sports. (= Vm not) I wish I was /were going with you. (= Vm not) wish [could give you an answer. (= 1 can) Tish you would be quiet. (= Your talking irvtates me.) I wish Chad known you then. (= but | didn’) I wish I could have explained. (= | wasn't able to) Ff only | hacit taken your advice!j GEEEA © complete these sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets. Some sentences require a negative, w- (have) more money so he could buy a new sweater. ... (snow) now that it’s Christmas. (be) taller so that I could be in the basketball team, (stop) watching television while [ am talking to you. (do) that. It annoys me. .. (come) so we could go off to the seaside, 1. Bruce wishes he 2 I wish it... 3 Iwish I. 4 Iwish you. 5 Iwish you ‘ 7 8 I wish the holidays ... I wish they .. (build) that block of flats right in front of our window. Of course Tom wishes he .....0ne (come) with us Paris, but he has to stay here and work. 9 Lwish We jassnnnan (go) to the match on Saturday but we're visiting my uncle instead. 10 wish you sa. (keep) your mouth shut yesterday. Now Mary knows everything. 11 Ifonly (lose) all my money. Now I'm broke. 12 Peter is always late. Ifonly he (turn up) on time for a change!