I WISH / WE WISH can be followed by would+ verb, when we refer to things or

actions done

When being part of the subjunctive, Wish is used with
two subjects: I I, I you, she - the children. It can have
both a present form (wish) and a past one (wished) and it
expresses a regret about a present situation or a past one.
Wish is used in 2 situations:
when talking about Present, we use PAST
SIMPLE
I wish I had a car. (I dont have a car.) NOW
I wish you were here. (You are not here.) NOW
when talking about Past, we use PAST
PERFECT
I wish I had had a car. (when I was 20) THEN
I wish you hadnt left. (you left an hour ago.) THEN
Ann was ill.
I wish Ann hadnt been
ill.
Ann wasnt here.
I wish Ann had been here.
Ann is
ill.
I wish Ann
werent
ill.
Ann isnt
here.
I wish Ann
were here.
WERE is used instead of WAS.
(was is used in common,
informal English)
I wish I were your friend.
If only Tim were here.
Be careful what
tense you use after
WISH! It may be a little
confusing at frst but
!ee" in min# that a
present situation goes
with PAST SIMPLE an# a
past one with PAST
PERFECT$
by somebody else and which bother us, but there is no way we could change them.
I wish it wouldnt rain. (It has been raining the whole day.) --- an annoying situation
We wish you wouldnt smoke$ (Unfortunately, it is your decision to sto smo!ing") --- We
are
complaining about this situation
#e never use would+ verb after I or We, since we can change a bothering situation we
erform. In this situation, %O&'( is used.
I cant drive. I wish I could drive.
We didnt have our own house. I wish we could have had our own house.
WISHED: is rarely used. It is followed by Past Perfect Simple and it refers to a past situation
which happened or not.
I wished I had visited you more often. THEN
I wished I hadnt told them about this. THEN
IF ONLY

--it expresses a stronger wish or regret than WISH. It refers to things or situations
in the present, that can never happen.
when it refers to a present situation, it is followed by Past Simple.
If only I had money. (but I dont have and I wont have any money in the future)
If only Sara gave me his phone number. (but I !now very well that she wont
ossibly do that)
when it refers to a past situation, it is followed by Past Perfect Simple.
If only we had taken your advice.
If only mother hadnt bought that epensive dress.

The period of time is completely closed and nothing can be changed anymore. All we
can do is to epress a regret about the situation.
It isnt
followed
by
WOULD
Tick the sentences that refer to present or past situations:
"resent "ast
I wish I ha# tol# you the truth$
)ou wish they woul# sto" smo!ing$
Sara wishes she were gi*en a "resent$
We all wish we ha#n+t gone there$
I really wish you coul# come with me$
Express wishes and regrets about the following present situations:
I #on+t ha*e a car$
I wish$
)ou can+t swim$
You wish$
We can+t go to the seasi#e$
#e wish$
I am ill$
I wish$
)ou loo! sa#$
I wish$
Express wishes and regrets about the following past situations:
I #i#n+t "ost the letter$
I wish$
They stole the money$
I wish$
,ane was alone in the "ar!$
%ane wishes$
Nobo#y was there$
#e wish$
I went to their "arty$
I wish$
Coplete the sentences! using woul#/woul#n+t or coul#:
I wish they $$$$$ma!e so much noise.
#e wish we $$$$$come to see you more often.
&hey wish I $$$$$sto crying.
I wish you $$$$$smo!e in my room.
#e wish %ohn $$$$$study harder for the e'ams.
I wish it $$$$$rain so heavily.
Express regrets about past actions which "ou didn#t do:

I didnt
study for
the test.
I didnt
apologize
to my
father.
If onl"$
If onl"$
If onl"$
I didnt go
to Saras
party.
If onl"$
I didnt
buy my
mother
roses.
Coplete the sentences with the correct for of the verb:
I wish we (buy) a new house.
If only it (rain)!
We wish he ... (not say) he was lying to us.
They wish you (stop) smoking.
I wish I (swim).
She wishes we ... (not let ) her alone.
Mother wished Sarah (go ) to University.
I wish I (be) wiser.
She wishes her friends (help) her more often.
If only I (go) there when I had the chance.
I wish the rain (stop).
I wish I ... (be) a teacher.
If only we (make) that phone call!
%ephrase the following sentences:
( I was always alone. I wish -
( It rains a lot.
He wishes-
( &om doesnt have a new bi!e.
Tom wishes -
( )ary didnt have time to visit
*aris.
If only-
( &hey have already signed the
treaty.
If only --
( You smo!e too much.
I wish--