FL3 ch11 hypothetical meaning

• Engels
• Middelbare school

Hypothetical meaning

You know:

- how to use wish

- how to use of only

Finish this sentence:
I wish......

I wish....

 I was/were a teacher. > (were = formal written English)

I wish I had a car.

I wish she could be nicer to him.

I wish she wouldn't go out every night > 

 (wishes for ourselves = could instead of would)

I wish I had been smarter and study more.

Finish this sentence:
If only.....

If only....

feelings/regrets are really strong (stronger than wish)

often with would/wouldn't to criticize someone

If only he would stop using curse-words.

Unit 3: Wish/if only

We use them to talk about regrets - things we would like to change in our past or present.

Present regrets:

You use wish/if only with a past simple tense to talk about regrets in the present:

- I wish I knew what do to!

- If only we didn't live so far away.

Unit 3: Wish/if only

Past regrets:

You use wish/if only with a past perfect tense to talk about regrets in the present (remember the 3rd conditional?):

- I wish I hadn't eaten that entire chocolate bunny. Now I felt so sick all morning.

- If only I had known you were coming! I would have make cake.

Unit 3: Wish/if only + would

We use wish + would to talk about something in the present we would like to change - usually something that annoys us.

We use: wish ...... + would & full verb

- I wish you wouldn't borrow my clothes without asking!

- Mum wishes it would rain because the garden really needs some water.

We only use wish + would to talk about things that cannot be changed.

I wish you _______ so late. I'm tired of always waiting for you!

1. didn't always arrive
2. wouldn't always arrive
3. wouldn't always have arrived
4. hadn't always arrived

I’m starving. I wish I _______ breakfast this morning.

1. would have eaten
2. would eat
3. ate
4. had eaten

I feel really unhappy! If only I _____
this job last year.

1. didn't accept
2. wouldn't accept
3. hadn't accepted

Now

Make sure you ask any questions you might have!

End-of-lesson Test questions

You're not the boss so you can't use the car park. ⇒ I wish I ____
the boss.

1. am
2. was
3. were
4. had been

You got hurt because you didn't wear a helmet. ⇒ I wish I ____ a helmet.

1. wear
2. wore
3. had worn
4. will wear

Your neighbours make a lot of noise and you hate it. ⇒ If only my neighbours ___ so much noise!

1. didn't make
2. wouldn't make
3. hadn't made

Hypothetical meaning

You know:

- how to use wish

- how to use of only

On a scale of 0 to a 100, how well do you feel you understand the use of wish and if only?

0100

Homework

Extra

I wish / if only

A. Expressing a wish or a regret  

Use of I wish / if only:  

There are three distinct types of  I wish / if only  sentences: 

1. Wish, wanting change for the present or future with the simple past. 

2. Regret with the past perfect. 

3. Complaints with would + verb. 

Expressing a wish:

Form: 

If only / I wish + simple past  

Example: 

If only I knew how to use a computer. (I don’t know how to use a computer and I would like to learn how to use it) 

Use:  

• To express a wish in the present or in the future.  

• The simple past here is an unreal past.  

• When you use the verb to be the form is “were”.  

Example: 

I wish I were a millionaire! 

Expressing regret:

Form:  

If only / I wish + past perfect  

Example: 

If only I had woken up early. (I didn't wake up early and I missed my bus.) 

Use: 

• To express a regret. 

• The action is past. 

Complaining:

Form: 

I wish / if only + would + verb  

Example: 

I wish you wouldn't arrive so late all the time (I'm annoyed because you always come late and I want you to arrive on time) 

Use: 

• To complain about a behaviour that you disapprove.  

• Expressing impatience, annoyance or dissatisfaction with a present action. 

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