مدونة التربية و التعليم في الجزائر – دروس، فروض، نتائج امتحانات مدونة التربية والتعليم في الجزائر | تحضير الدروس، فروض واختبارات، نتائج البكالوريا وBEM، مسابقات التوظيف، والتوجيه المدرسي للطلاب وأولياء الأمور.
Learning Objectives
- Learn how to express wishes and regrets using “I wish” and “If only”
- Distinguish between wishes about the present, past, and future
- Use the correct tenses after “wish” and “if only”
- Apply these structures in BAC exam exercises
1. Introduction
In English, we use “I wish” and “If only” to express wishes, desires, or regrets about situations that are unreal, impossible, or unlikely. “If only” is more emphatic than “I wish” and expresses stronger feelings.
2. Expressing Wishes about the Present
Use wish / if only + past simple (or could + verb) to express a wish that something were different NOW.
Examples:
- I wish I had more money. (I don”t have enough money now)
- She wishes she could speak English fluently. (She can”t speak it well)
- If only I knew the answer! (I don”t know the answer)
- I wish it were (or was) summer. (It is not summer)
Note: After “wish,” we use “were” for all subjects (I wish I were… / I wish he were…), though “was” is also accepted in informal English.
3. Expressing Wishes about the Future
Use wish / if only + would + verb (base form) to express a wish for something to change in the future, often expressing annoyance or complaint.
Examples:
- I wish you would stop smoking. (You smoke and I want you to change)
- She wishes the teacher would give less homework.
- If only he would listen to my advice!
Note: We cannot use “wish + would” when the subject is the same as the subject of “wish.” For same-subject wishes, use “could” instead.
✔ I wish I could fly. (NOT: I wish I would fly)
4. Expressing Regrets about the Past
Use wish / if only + past perfect (had + past participle) to express regret about something that happened (or did not happen) in the past.
Examples:
- I wish I had studied harder for the exam. (I didn”t study hard, and I regret it)
- He wishes he hadn”t said that. (He said it, and now he regrets it)
- If only I had taken your advice! (I didn”t take your advice)
- She wishes she had visited her grandmother before she died.
5. Summary Table
| Time Reference | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present (wish for different now) | wish + past simple / could | I wish I were taller. |
| Future (wish for change) | wish + would + base verb | I wish it would stop raining. |
| Past (regret) | wish + past perfect | I wish I had been careful. |
6. BAC-Style Exercises
Exercise 1:
Rewrite the sentences using “I wish” or “If only”:
a. I don”t have a car. → I wish _______________________.
b. She didn”t study for the test. → If only _________________.
c. My neighbour plays loud music at night. → I wish my neighbour ________________________.
d. He can”t swim. → He wishes ______________________.
Answers:
a. …I had a car.
b. …she had studied for the test.
c. …wouldn”t play loud music at night.
d. …he could swim.
Exercise 2 (BAC):
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets:
a. I wish I ___________ (can) speak three languages.
b. If only you ___________ (tell) me the truth yesterday.
c. She wishes her parents ___________ (let) her travel next summer.
d. I wish it ___________ (stop) raining. I want to go out.
Answers:
a. could b. had told c. would let d. would stop
Exercise 3 (BAC):
Choose the correct option:
a. I wish I (knew / had known / know) the answer now.
b. If only he (apologised / had apologised / would apologise) yesterday!
c. She wishes her brother (didn”t waste / hadn”t wasted / doesn”t waste) so much time on video games.
Answers:
a. knew b. had apologised c. didn”t waste
📍 دروس مشابهة
- Conditional Sentences (If-Clauses): Types 0, 1, 2, 3 with BAC Exercises — Englis
- Conditional Sentences: أنواع الجمل الشرطية Types 0,1,2,3 مع تمارين بكالوريا محلو
- Linking Words (Connecteurs logiques): Expressing Cause, Result, Purpose and Cont
