24 Nov 2025
I WISH & IF ONLY
Wish and If Only
1. EXPRESSING WISHES (deseo)
We can use “wish” and “If only” + past tense to express wishes about the present . (= To say that we would like to change something)
“I wish I had a car” (= I do not have a car)
“If only she could play the guitar” (She cannot do it) We use “WERE” instead of “WAS” after wish and if only.
2. EXPRESSING REGRETS (pesar) To express regret that something happened or didn’t happen in the past, we use “wish” or “If
only” +past perfect.
“I’m tired, I wish I had gone to bed earlier last night” (=I didn’t go to bed very early)
3. EXPRESSING COMPLAINTS (quejas)
We use “wish” or “if only” + would + infinitive when we want something to stop happening, or we
want something different to happen.
“I wish you would be quiet, I’m trying to do my work”!
EXERCISE: WRITE SENTENCES USING WISH OR IF ONLY FOR THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS:
1. EXPRESSING WISHES (deseo)
We can use “wish” and “If only” + past tense to express wishes about the present . (= To say that we would like to change something)
“I wish I had a car” (= I do not have a car)
“If only she could play the guitar” (She cannot do it) We use “WERE” instead of “WAS” after wish and if only.
2. EXPRESSING REGRETS (pesar) To express regret that something happened or didn’t happen in the past, we use “wish” or “If
only” +past perfect.
“I’m tired, I wish I had gone to bed earlier last night” (=I didn’t go to bed very early)
3. EXPRESSING COMPLAINTS (quejas)
We use “wish” or “if only” + would + infinitive when we want something to stop happening, or we
want something different to happen.
“I wish you would be quiet, I’m trying to do my work”!
EXERCISE: WRITE SENTENCES USING WISH OR IF ONLY FOR THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS:
- I can’t give up smoking.
- I haven’t got any cigarettes.
- George isn’t here.
- It’s cold. (And I hate cold weather)
- I live in London. (And I hate London)
- I have to work tomorrow, but I would like to stay in bed.
- I don’t know anything about cars, and my car has just broken down.
- It’s a pity that I’m not lying on a beautiful sunny beach.
- You’ve eaten too much and now you feel sick.
- Tina can’t come to the party and she ‘s your best friend.
1st and 2nd Conditionals
CONDITIONAL SENTENCES - EXERCISES (First and Second
conditionals)
1. What would you do in these situations? Begin your sentences: “If I …… I would….”
1. You are eating in a restaurant and you find a dead fly in your
plate.
If I found a dead fly in my
plate, I would call the waiter and I wouldn’t eat it.
2. You
find a purse with a lot of money.
3. You wake up and find a thief in your room.
4. You see someone shoplifting.
5. You arrive late and your friend has been waiting for you for 1
hour.
6. You hear your friends talking about your boyfriend.
2. Complete in your own words:
1. We don’t have his phone number, but if... we had his phone number, I would call him
2. I don't have a car, but if ...
3. He never does his homework, but if...
4. I'm not a millionaire, but if...
3. Complete the following sentences:
1. Unless someone tells me the way...
2. If I were you...
3. They would be very angry with us if....
4. Flowers won't grow well if...
4. Put the verbs into the correct tense:
1. If he ………………………(not / be) here by 8 o'clock, I'll go home.
2. If I had the time, I ……………………………….(study) German.
3. I …………………………..(buy) it if the price is right.
4. I would tell him if I ……………………………..(see)
him.
5. I ………………………..(catch) the train if I left earlier.
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