Meanings into words: Grade XII

Unit 10 (wishes and regrets)

The use of 'I wish' and 'If only':

Follow-up structures:

I wish/If only+sub+would/could+v1+obj. or I wish/If only+sub+v2+obj.

NB. i) I wish/If only+sub+would+v1+obj is used about things you want to happen. You don't think they will happen- but you wish they would. The subject wants someone to do something. For e.g. I wish he would help me. (Right) but I wish I would be rich. (wrong)

      With the subject “I” would isn’t possible.

ii)  I wish/If only+sub+could+v1+obj is used about things you want to do yourself. They are things you can't do-but you wish you could.

iii) I wish/If only+sub+v2/{was/were+ v4}+ obj. is used to talk about what's wrong with your present situation. You don't like the way things are, and you wish they were different.

      We can only use wish + would to talk about things we can’t change.

      So I wish I wouldn’t eat so much chocolate is not possible although we can say I wish I didn’t eat so much chocolate.

From Student's Book: 10.1: page 94 (wishes)

Questions: For each of the following situations, make sentences with I wish/If only, using a) would b) could c) the past tense.

1. It's raining. → a) I wish it would stop raining. b) If only I could go out. c) I wish it was not raining.

2. You're lonely. → a) I wish someone would visit me. b) If only I could meet some nice people. c) If only I had some friends.

3. You're ill in bed. → a) If only my mother would come very soon. b) I wish I could meet my friends at the party. c) I wish I had a family doctor.

4. Your car's broken down. → a) I wish someone would repair my car. b) if only I could repair my car. c) I wish I had a mechanic here.

5. You're short of money. → a) I wish someone would give me some money. b) if only I could buy a book. c) I wish I had enough money to buy a jacket.

From work book: ex-1, page: 47

1. You're in bed with flu. → a) If only my temperature would go down. b) I wish I could get up. c) I wish there wasn't so much traffic outside.

2. You're lost. → If only someone would show me the way. b) I wish I could phone my parents. c) I wish I was at home.

3. You're out of work. → a) I wish someone would offer me a job. b) If only I could get a job. c) I wish I was a rich person.

4. You're trying to communicate with a foreigner who doesn't speak your language. → a) I wish someone would translate his language into mine. b) I only I could speak his language. c) I wish he spoke my language.

5. You're in love. → a) I wish she would look at me. b) I wish I could impress her. c) If only she was my fiancée. (a woman who is engaged to be married)

From Student's Book: 10.2: page 96 (Conflicting wishes)

Question: Have similar conversation as shown in the example:

1. A doesn't have a telephone; B has a telephone.

     A: I wish I had a telephone.

     B: Really? Why's that?

     A: Well, if I had a telephone, I wouldn't have to use other's telephone.

     B: Well, frankly, I wish I didn't have a telephone.

     A: Really? Why's that?

     B: Because if I didn't have a telephone, I wouldn't have to pay the bill of it.

2. A doesn't work in London; B works in London.

     A: I wish I worked in London.

     B: Really? Why's that?

     A: Well, if I worked in London, I would earn a lot of money.

     B: Well, frankly, I wish I didn't work in London.

     A: Really? Why's that?

     B: Because if I didn't work in London, I would not be so busy in my job.

3. A's children go to boarding school; B's children don't go to boarding school.

     A: I wish my children didn't go to boarding school.

     B: Really? Why's that?

     A: Well, if my children didn't go to boarding school, I wouldn't have to pay a lot of money for their education.

     B: Well, frankly, I wish my children went to boarding school.

     A: Really? Why's that?

     B: Because if my children went to boarding school, they would speak good English.

4. A's mother hardly ever visits him; B's mother often visits him.

     A: I wish my mother visited me frequently.

     B: Really? Why's that?

     A: Well, if she visited me frequently, I would get a lot of money from her.

     B: Well, frankly, I wish my mother didn't visit me frequently.

      A: Really? Why's that?

     B: Because if she didn't visit me frequently, I would not be scolded for being lazy at my study.

5. A is't famous; B is famous.

     A: I wish I was famous.

     B: Really? Why's that?

     A: Well, if I was famous, I would be known to the people of the world.

     B: Well, frankly, I wish I was not famous.

     A: Really? Why's that?

     B: Because if I was not famous, I would not be so busy in attending interviews.

6. A has got a cold; B hasn't got a cold.

     A: I wish I didn't have a cold.

     B: Really? Why's that?

     A: Well, if I didn't have a cold, I would attend my friend's birthday- party.

     B: Well, frankly, I wish I had a cold.

     A: Really? Why's that?

     B: Because if I had a cold, I wouldn't have to work hard at home with my mom.

Regrets:

Follow-up structures:

a. I wish/If only+sub+had (not)+v3+obj.

b. sub+ should(not)+have+v3+obj

c. If+sub+ had+v3 +obj+ sub+would(not)have+v3+obj.

Example: You went to a pub.

a. I wish/if only I had not gone to that pub.

b. I should not have gone to that pub.

c. if I had not gone to that pub, I wouldn't have got drunk.

From Student's Book: 10.5: page 98 (Feeling sorry for yourself)

Question: What might you regret in the following situations? Express you regret using I wish, if only and should (not) have+ v3: Add an if…sentence showing the consequences of your action:

1. You are suffering from sunstroke.

→ a. I wish I had sat in the shade.

      b. I shouldn't have taken the roof off the car.

      c. If I had sat in the shade, I wouldn't have got so burnt.

2. War has suddenly broken out and you're stuck in your hotel room.

→ a. I wish I hadn't stuck in my hotel room.

      b. I shouldn't have gone for travelling during the war.

      c. if I had not stuck in my hotel room, I would have been at my home happily.

3. Your house has burnt down.

→ a. I wish I hadn't gone out lighting fire in the kitchen.

     b. I should have remained at home doing some housework.

     c. If I had not gone out lighting fire in the kitchen, my house wouldn't have caught fire.

4.  You feel seasick.

→ a. If only I hadn't travelled by ship.

     b. I shouldn't have gone to the seashore for sunbathing.

     c. If I hadn't travelled by ship, I wouldn't have felt seasick.

5. You're short of sleep.

→ a. If only I hadn't watched television programme for the whole night.

     b. I shouldn't have attended the music party for the whole night.

c. If I hadn't watched television programme for the whole night, I wouldn't have felt so sleepy.

6. Someone has just refused to marry you.

→ a. If only I hadn't proposed to Binita.

     b. I should have talked very politely with her about our marriage plan.

c. If I hadn't proposed to her, I wouldn't have been badly hurt.

7. You're stuck half way up a mountain in fog.

→ a. I wish I hadn't started climbing mountain before listening properly to the weather forecast.

     b. I should have listened to the weather forecast before climbing mountain.

c. If I had started climbing mountain after listening to the weather forecast, I wouldn't have been stuck half way up the mountain in fog.

From work book: Ex-4: page: 50

Question: Regret doing the things below. Add an if…sentence showing the consequence of your action and then…sentence showing a further consequence.

1. You went to a party.

→ I wish I hadn't gone to that party.  If I hadn't gone to that party I wouldn't have got drunk and then I wouldn't have had that accident on the way home.

2. You forgot your wedding anniversary.

→ I wish I hadn't forgotten my wedding anniversary. If I hadn't forgotten my wedding anniversary, I would have managed a grand party and then I would have enjoyed a lot with my friends.

3. You didn't check the oil in your car.

     I wish I had checked the oil in my car. If I had checked the oil in my car, my car wouldn't have run out and then I wouldn't have been stranded.

4. You won the football pools.

     I had not won the football pools. If I hadn't won the football pools, I wouldn't have to organize a big party and then I wouldn't have spent more than I won.

5. You didn't set your alarm clock.

     I wish I had set my alarm clock. If I had set my alarm clock, I wouldn't have been overslept and then I wouldn't have been late for my exams.

6. You lost your passport.

     I wish I hadn't lost my passport. If I hadn't lost my passport, I would have got a visa and then I would have been working in the UK.

7. You didn't unplug your television.

     I wish I had unplugged my television. If I had unplugged my television, my house wouldn't have caught fire and then I wouldn't have lost my properties.

From work book: Ex-5: page: 51

Follow-up structures:

a. sub+could have+v3+obj.

b. sub+needn't have+v3+obj.

Question: Add two sentences to the remarks below with (a) could have and (b) needn't have:

1. You didn't tell me you could do electrical repairs.

         a. You could have mended my radio for me.

         b. I needn't have taken my radio to the shop to be repaired.

2. I wish I had known their telephone had been repaired.

     a. I could have telephoned my parents.

     b. I needn't have posted a letter to them.

3. If only you'd told me you were ill.

     a. I could have called a doctor for your treatment.

     b. I needn't have gone out leaving you alone.

4. I didn't realise I still had £10 in my pocket.

     a. I could have gone home by bus.

     b. I needn't have walked a long distance.

5. I didn't know I was going to win all that money.

     a. I could have paid off the debt.

     b. I needn't have borrowed a lot of money from my friend.

6. I had no idea it would be so warm here.

     a. I could have come here without my thick jacket.

     b. I needn't have bought an extra woollen jacket.

The End of Unit 10