WISHES AND REGRETS

WISHES AND REGRETS

1. We use unrealistic conditionals to express regret or sadness. For its structure we use the clause of wish + noun to express sadness or wish for a different situation.

2. To express a wish about the future the following structure is used. wish + would / could

   • I wish that I could travel the world

3. To express a wish about the present the following structure is used. wish + simple past

   • I wish that I lived in Galapagos

4. To express a wish about the past the following structure is used. wish + past perfect

   • I wish you had told me about the travel

5. Use simple past after if only to express a wish about something that is contrary to fact at present.

   • If only you weren't so bored

6. If only has a meaning similar to that of wish. If only is followed by a noun clause without that

   • If only I were good for the math

7. Use past perfect after if only to express a wish that something had happened differently in the past

   • If only I had said about the travel