We use wish + past to express a wish about the present:

I wish Arnold had a car. (I’m talking about the present)

Obs- With the verb to be, we use were for all persons:
I wish Mom were here now. (I wish she were here.)
A Read the situations and express wishes about the
present:
We use wish + past perfect to talk about something we want
1- Mary wants to buy a car, but she doesn’t have enough money.
had happened differently in the past:
She wishes she _________ enough money to buy the car she
I wish I had gone to bed earlier yesterday. (but I didn’t)
wants.
2- My mother doesn’t know how to cook very well, but she’d like
We use wish + would corresponding to please, to ask someone
to be a good cook.
to do something:
My mother _______ she _______ a good ______.
I wish you would stop doing all this terrible noise. (it
3- Sue’s boyfriend is very jealous and they always argue
corresponds to = Please, stop doing all this terrible noise.)
because of his jealousy.
Sue ______ her boyfriend ________ so jealous.
4- My kids are so disorganized!
I ________ my kids ___________ more __________.
5- Evelyn would like to know how to play the guitar.
Evelyn ___________________________________________.
6- My sister is on a diet, she wants to lose some pounds.
_________________________________________________.
7- I have a date tonight, but I don’t have a beautiful dress to
wear.
_________________________________________________.
8- Ann and Paul want to get married next month, but they don’t
have a house yet.
__________________________________________________.
9- I’m a brunette, but I would like to be blond.
_________________________________________________.
10- I’m a great soccer fan and there is an important game
tonight. But I only have only 5 dollars and the tickets are 10
dollars each.
_________________________________________________.

B Look at the pictures and write about things they like to be

different in the present:
1- Monica __________________________________________.
2- Ms. Carter _______________________________________.
3- Gilbert __________________________________________.
4- Alfred __________________________________________.
D Choose the best answer to complete:
1- I wish I _______ so much at college. Now I can’t get a better job.
5- Liz _____________________________________________.
a) goofed off c) didn’t goof off
6- Carl ____________________________________________.
b) had goofed off d) hadn’t goofed off
2- Paul, I wish you ____ the TV. I want to sleep.
C Read the short histories and write a wish about the past. a) would turn off c) turned off
b) had turned off d) have turned off
1- My mother’s birthday was yesterday. I feel sorry because I
3- Sue wishes she _____ her father’s car without permission. Now
forgot to buy her a present.
she’s grounded.
I wish I ___________ a present for Mom.
a) would take c) took
2- I’ve just gotten married and don’t know how to do the laundry. I
b) had taken d) hadn’t taken
regret not learning this before.
4- Rosanne wishes her mother ____ so strict. She wants to go to the
I wish I _______________ how to do the laundry before getting
prom but her mother doesn’t allow her to go out at night.
married.
a) weren’t c) aren’t
3- My co-worker Sheila went to a party yesterday and drank too
b) isn’t d) hasn’t been
much. Now she has a terrible hangover.
5- My parents wish they ____ the money to buy a new house. Our
She wishes ________________ too much yesterday.
house is too small for our family.
4- I knew I had to wake up early today, but I watched TV until
a) had c) had had
midnight. Now I feel really tired.
b) have had d) have
I wish ____________________________________________.
6- Louis, I wish you ____ yelling at your sister.
5- Bill loves Cindy but he didn’t propose her. Now she’s going to
a) stopped c) would stop
marry his best friend.
b) had stopped d) stops
Bill _______________________________________________.
7- Carol misses Bruno a lot. She wishes she ____ with him.
6- Beth didn’t get her degree at the University and now she can’t
a) doesn’t break up c) hasn’t broken up
get a promotion.
b) didn’t break up d) hadn’t broken up
She wishes ________________________________________.
8- Sue and Jim wish they ___ a baby.
7- Marilyn’s boss overheard when she said nasty things about
a) Would have c) had
him.
b) Will have d) have
_________________________________________________.
 Teacher’s keys

A 1- had; 2- wishes – were – cook; 3- wishes – weren’t; 4- wish – were – organized; 5- wish she could play the guitar;
6- My sister wishes she were thinner; 7- I wish I had a beautiful dress to wear tonight; 8- They wish they had a house;
9- I wish I were blond; 10- I wish I had enough money for the tickets / I wish I had 10 dollars.

B 1- Monica wishes she were blond.

2- Ms. Carter wishes she were thin / slim.

3- Gilbert wishes he were at home resting.

4- Alfred wishes he were at the beach surfing.

5- Liz wishes her boyfriend were as handsome as Brad Pitt. / Liz wishes her boyfriend were Brad Pitt. / Liz wishes Brad
Pitt were with her.

6- Carl wishes he could give her girlfriend a diamond ring. / Carl wishes his present were a diamond ring.

C 1- had bought; 2- had learned; 3- she hadn’t drunk; 4- I hadn’t watched TV until midnight yesterday; 5- wishes he
had proposed to Cindy; 6- she had gotten her degree; 7- Marilyn wishes she hadn’t said nasty things about her boss.

D 1- d); 2- a); 3- d); 4- a); 5- a); 6- c); 7- d); 8- c).