wish / if only (бажання, жалі)
Розширюйте словниковий запас за допомогою практичних прикладів
To wish a present situation were different, use 'wish' + past simple: 'I wish I had more time' (but I don't). The past tense signals that the wish is unreal.
With 'to be', use 'were' for all subjects in careful English: 'I wish she were here.' 'Wish I could' expresses a present inability.
Приклади
I wish I had more time.
wish + past simple for an unreal present.
I wish she were here right now.
'were' for all subjects after wish.
I wish I could speak French.
'wish I could' = present inability.
wish I had
/wɪʃ aɪ hæd/
I wish I had more time.
wish I knew
/wɪʃ aɪ njuː/
I wish I knew the answer.
wish she were
/wɪʃ ʃiː wɜːr/
I wish she were here right now.
wish I could
/wɪʃ aɪ kʊd/
I wish I could speak French.
Choose the correct form: I wish I ___ more time.
Use 'to be' after wish: I wish she ___ here right now.
To express regret about the past, use 'wish' + past perfect: 'I wish I had studied harder' (but I didn't).
The past perfect (had + participle) shows the regret is about something already finished. The negative works the same: 'I wish I hadn't said that.'
Приклади
I wish I had studied harder at school.
wish + past perfect for past regret.
I wish I hadn't said that to her.
Negative regret: hadn't + participle.
I wish you had told me sooner.
Regret about someone else's past action.
wish I had studied
/wɪʃ aɪ hæd ˈstʌdid/
I wish I had studied harder at school.
wish I hadn't said
/wɪʃ aɪ ˈhædənt sed/
I wish I hadn't said that to her.
wish you had told
/wɪʃ juː hæd toʊld/
I wish you had told me sooner.
Choose the correct form for a past regret: I wish I ___ harder at school.
Past regret (negative) of 'say': I wish I ___ said that to her. (hadn't)
Use 'wish' + would to complain about an annoying habit or to want something to change: 'I wish you would stop interrupting me.'
We typically use it about other people or things (not ourselves), often expressing irritation or impatience.
Приклади
I wish you would stop interrupting me.
wish + would = annoyance at a habit.
I wish it would rain — the garden is so dry.
Wanting a change to happen.
I wish he wouldn't talk so loudly.
Negative: wish + wouldn't.
wish you would
/wɪʃ juː wʊd/
I wish you would stop interrupting me.
wish it would rain
/wɪʃ ɪt wʊd reɪn/
I wish it would rain — the garden is so dry.
wish he wouldn't
/wɪʃ hiː ˈwʊdənt/
I wish he wouldn't talk so loudly.
Complain about a habit: I wish you ___ stop interrupting me.
Want a change: I wish it ___ rain — the garden is so dry. (would)
'If only' works exactly like 'wish' but is more emphatic and emotional: 'If only I knew what to do!'
It follows the same tense rules: past simple for the present (If only I knew), past perfect for the past (If only I had listened), would for annoyance/change (If only she would call).
Приклади
If only I knew what to do!
Present wish, emphatic: past simple.
If only I had listened to my parents.
Past regret: past perfect.
If only she would call me back.
Wanting a change: would.
If only I knew
/ɪf ˈoʊnli aɪ njuː/
If only I knew what to do!
If only I had
/ɪf ˈoʊnli aɪ hæd/
If only I had listened to my parents.
If only she would
/ɪf ˈoʊnli ʃiː wʊd/
If only she would call me back.
Choose the correct form for a past regret: If only I ___ to my parents.
Present wish (past simple of 'know'): If only I ___ what to do!
Готові потренуватися?
Закріпіть ці слова за допомогою інтерактивних флешкарт — ваш прогрес зберігається локально на пристрої.
Наступний
Модальні з perfect: must have / should have