Wishes and regrets

Wish constructions

Wish expresa pesar porque las cosas no son de la forma que al que habla le gustaría que fuesen.

Lo solemos traducir por “ojalá que”

I wish I know English better - Ojalá supiera más inglés

Wish + pasado simple aunque normalmente se refiere a presente o futuro

I wish they were here now - Ojalá estuviesen aquí

I wish I got more letters - Ojalá recibiese más cartas

He wished he were younger.

Wish +would suele expresar desagrado o queja sobre la situación presente. Solo se puede utilizar cuando hay dos sujetos diferentes.

She seldom writes. I wish she would write more often

Es como si el segundo sujeto se empeñara en no hacer lo que el primero desea.

Wish + pasado perfecto se emplea cuando nos lamentamos por algo que nos hubiera gustado que ocurriera en el pasado pero que en realidad no ocurrió.

I am sorry that I didn’t know Diana’s phone number and couldn’t invite her to the party. I wish I had known her phone number

If only = I wish. Se emplea para sugerir un deseo o pero más fuerte sobre el presente o el pasado o would + el infinitive sin “to”

If only he were here.

If only we hadn’t taken the bus we would have arrived earlier.- Si no hubiésemos cogido el autobús habríamos llegado antes

If only you could stop talking.- Si al menos dejara de hablar

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb.

Tom’s mother wished he ………….. (be) tidier around the house.
Jenny wished she …………….. (be) prettier.
Mike wishes he ……………. (can) swim as well as Tom.
I wish we ……………….. (not have) exams tomorrow.
Tom and Mary wish they ……………. (can) buy a new car.
I wish I …………………. (buy) that sweater I saw last week; now it is been sold.
Do you wish we ……………………. (spend) more time at Madame Tussaud’s when we were in London?
Tom now wishes he ………………… (work) harder when he was at school.
Mike wishes he …………………… (go) to see his grandfather while he was in hospital.
Gary wished you ……………………. (not tell) everyone where he lived.
I wish it ……………………. (not rain) so much when we were in England.
I wish my children ……………… (not spend) so much money!
I wish I ………………….. (win) the first prize instead of John.
If only he ……………. (have) a dog when he was a child.
His parents wish he ……………. (read) more and …………………. (not watch) so much television.
Mary wishes she …………… (buy) that necklace she saw, but it was much too expensive.

Here are some situations make suitable wish sentences for each one.

Tommy would love to have a baby sister. Tommy wishes …
Bill is not looking forward to going to the dentist tomorrow. Bill wishes …
I am really sorry I can’t come with to the theatre tonight. I wish …
The neighbour was upset about the loud noise Bob was making. The neighbour wishes …
Jill is upset that he quarrelled with his girlfriend. Jill wishes …
What a pity Jean missed the film last night. Jean wishes …
I don’t really want to go to the dentist. I wish …
John is too short to be a basketball player. John wishes …
The Smiths regret cancelling their holiday in Turkey. The Smiths wish …
Dad really wants you to stop smoking. Dad wishes …
What a shame you missed the school trip. I wish …
I hope it snows at the weekend. I wish …

Key to Wishes and regrets

You can find more practise in the following sites

http://www.carmenlu.com/fifth/grammar/wishes5.html

http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-exercise-if-only-I-wish.php

http://ingles.iesboliches.org/activities/grammar/other/WISHES-AND-REGRETS2.htm