F   Language study 3
Look at these situations and imagine what each person might say, using I wish —
Remember: use would(n't) when you are complaining about someone els's behaviour, but do not say: / wish I would ...
Examples:
Jenny's son has a lot of annoying habits. / wish he wouldn't make such a mess.
Anna told her horrible boss exactly what she thought of him yesterday, and now she is worried, / wish I hadn't been so rude to him.
1 Jenny's son is complaining about his mother.
2 George sold his shares a few weeks ago for 235p and now they have gone up to 894p.
3 Jason is fed up with the behaviour of Sam, one of the other students in his class.
4 Lars has just started his military service, and doesn't like they way they treat him.
14 Wishes, regrets and preferences
14.1 Wishes and regrets [> pp. 43,47
1 I wish I were rich!
If only we could see each other more often!
I wish we didn't live in Ihis terrible place.
2 I wish you wouldn't make so
much noise!
If only they would stop that terrible noise!
I wish it would stop raining!
3 I wish I had never married him, If only I had studied harder at school.
I wish you hadn't told me your secret.
1 These examples express wishes (often suggesting that the speaker is sorry about something - I'm sorry I'm not rich).
Notice the 'past' form of the verbs (were, could see, didn't live) after / wish and if only as with conditional 2.    t> GS4.2
2 These examples express wishes for a change in the future and often suggest that the speaker is angry or dissatisfied about (or tired of) the present situation.    > GS7.3.
3 These examples express wishes or regrets about the past (/ wish I had studied harder but I didn'ty.
Notice the past perfect is used in the same way as conditional 3 sentences.    t> GS4.3
I wish and If only > GS 14.1
A Which of these sentences (a or b) expresses most clearly that the speaker is sorry about something or regrets it?
1 a I don't want to be here, b I wish I weren't here.
2 a  I want to have more money, b If only I had more money.
3 a I hope I can come to your party.
b I wish I could come to your party.
4 a I want to be in London now. b If only I were in London now.
B Rewrite the second sentence in each pair. Use no more than five words including the word in bold. Do NOT change this word.
1 I'm sorry I can't speak English perfectly.
wish   I_English perfectly.
2 I'm sorry I can't do this exercise.
only   if_this exercise.
I'm sorry I'm not rich, only If_
_ rich.
Are you ever sorry that you aren't rich? wish   Do you ever_
ch?
I'm sorry I can't answer that question.
wish   I_that question.
It's a pity the weather isn't better today.
only   if_better today.
I'm sorry you don't love me.
only   If_me.
It's a pity you can't understand how I feel about you.
wish I_how I feel about
you.
5  Mick is in prison.
6 Harry has just split up with his girlfriend because she was unhappy with the way he behaved.
7  Peter went for a drive and is now completely lost.
8 Mrs Green's children have left home, and they rarely get in touch with her.
A Explain the difference in meaning in these pairs of sentences.
1 I don't think you're very interested.
I don't think you are very interesting.
2 The problem with you is that you're bored. The problem with you is that you're boring.
3 You aren't very amusing. You aren't very amused.
Repeat the sentences that people do not like to hear about themselves. Then describe a situation or situations in which you might say the other sentences.
Example: I don't think you're very interested. >■ Perhaps I would say this if I told someone a sioiy and I could see that he or she wasn't listening.
B Read this text and the words in capital letters below it. Change the form of the word so that it fits the numbered space. An example is given (0).
I saw a film last week that was not very
(0) interesting      it was a comedy but it was not
very (1)_____But perhaps the real problem
was not that the film was bad but that I was
[2)_. The weather was very
(3)_that day too. To add to my
problems, I was (4)_ _because I had just
had some very (5)_news. I had been
hoping to get a very (6)___job that
someone else got instead. In fact, I was very
(7)_I didn't get it because I was
(8)________that I had all the right
qualifications. However, (9)__things
like this happen all the time, don't they? So why was I
(10) ?		
0 INTEREST	6	INTEREST
1 AMUSE	7	SHOCK
2 DEPRESS	S	CONVINCE
3 DEPRESS	9	DISAPPOINT
4 DISAPPOINT	10	SURPRISE
5 SURPRISE		
/ wish you would/wouldn't do it
1 wish you had/hadn't done it > GS 14.1
A Which two examples below could mean 'Please do or don't do this in the future'? Explain what the other two examples mean.
1 I wish you would phone me.
2 I wish you had phoned me.
3 I wish you wouldn't lie to me.
4 I wish you hadn't lied to me.
B Complete the second sentence in each pair. Always begin the second sentence with I wish.
Example: I'm sorry I said that.
> I wish I hadn't said that.
1 Please don't say things like that.
2 Please don't do that.
3 I'm angry because you said that.
4 I'm angry because you did that.
5 Don't ask me so many questions.
6 Don't smoke here!
7 I'm sorry I asked you that question.
8 It was wrong of you to ask me that question.
C In groups or pairs, say one or two sentences about each of the following things.
1 Some news that you would find surprising.
2 What you do when you are bored.
3 Something which you have found boring.