Expressing wishes and regrets SKILLS LEVEL NUMBER LANGUAGE Advanced B2_1047X_EN English
Goals Learn how to express wishes and regrets Practise using the past perfect tense to talk about regrets Practise using the past simple to make wishes about the present 2
Have you ever done anything you wish you hadn t? Expressing your dreams, as well as things we would rather change about the past or present is easy in English. By the end of the lesson you will have no regrets for learning how! 3
Warm up discussion Make a wish for your future. What was it? 4
Vocabulary I wish if only hope to regret worry annoyance disappointment anguish 5
Vocabulary remorseful nostalgia come true sorrowful fulfil aspiration to envy yearning 6
Sentences slide I felt extremely remorseful after saying yes. I am really yearning for a greater challenge in this city. I ve recently learned not to regret the things I can t change. Do you think she can fulfil your dream? 7
Sentences slide I really hope this turns out for the best. I felt so much disappointment after he told me the truth. It is difficult to describe the anguish I am feeling. If only I had said what was on my mind. 8
Expressing wishes The verb wish can be used to express strong desires. We might wish for something to happen or our circumstances to change. We can make wishes in the past and the present. Our wishes for the present are often for things that are unlikely to happen. When we make wishes for the past we know they are impossible the past cannot be changed. I wish I had been a little clearer with him. I wish Santa had brought me a new pair of shoes. I wish I had joined you that night. 9
Making wishes about the present When making wishes for the present we use the past simple verb to follow I wish. I wish I rode quicker to catch you! I wish I mentioned my other qualifications. I wish I stopped smoking cigarettes. I wish I spoke more confidently on my date. 10
Making wishes about the present We can also use could + the infinitive to make wishes about the present. I wish I could speak German. I wish I could spend more time with him. If only I could speak German then I could live in Stuttgart. If only I could produce songs like that producer. 11
Make a wish using I wish + the past simple verb 1. You wish for a pay rise. I wish I received a pay rise. 2. You wish for more attention from your partner. 3. You wish for fame and fortune. 4. You wish for a more suitable position. 5. You wish you didn t smoke. 12
Making wishes about the present Use could + the infinitive to make wishes about the present. Use the examples below. You wish for a new life in another city. You wish for a new bicycle your current one was stolen. You wish one of your colleagues would notice you more. 13
Talk to the teacher Respond to the questions below in conversation with the teacher. Ask them the same questions. Do you ever wish for things that are impossible, or at least highly unlikely? Have you ever done anything in the past you wish you hadn t? If you could wish for one thing, what would it be? Is there something in the present that bothers you and you wish to change? 14
Making wishes about the future To make wishes about the future in the second or third person, we use would. If you would like to make a wish about yourself you can use the word could. Wishes about the future I wish he would just get over her. I wish Peter would stop interrupting me in class! Wishes about yourself I wish I could find love. I wish I could improve my English. 15
To hope To hope is used similarly to wish. We use the word hope when we see something as realistic in our future. I hope the conservatory accepts my application! I hope to see you soon. I hope you feel better. 16
Envy Wish can also be used to express envy. Envy can be felt when someone notices a superior quality, achievement or possession in another and desires it for themselves. I wish I had your talents. Jade felt envy when she saw Sarah s stunning yellow dress. 17
Be careful what you wish for! This idiom is often used in English to suggest that sometimes our desires and the things we wish for come with unwanted or unpleasant consequences. I wish I could be a famous singer! Be careful what you wish for 18
Make sentences from the images Use the images as stimulus to construct sentences using the structures from the lesson. Use wish to express envy. Make a wish about the future. Make a wish about the present. Make a wish for yourself in the past or present. 19
Make sentences Make sentences from the situations below. You wish your friend would stop leaving his chewed gum on your table. You wish to get a sandwich as you are hungry. You wish your Mother would stop worrying about you. You wish to become a newsreader when you finish university. You wish for true love. You wish for your brother to remember your birthday this year. You wish to live in a new city. You wish your partner would get up and help you cook breakfast. You wish that your exam tomorrow will be cancelled. 20
Envy Talk about times where you felt envy. Try to use wish to express how you felt. 21
To regret To regret means to feel sorry, disappointed or distressed about something that has happened, either in the past or the present. It can also mean to remember something with a feeling of sorrow or loss. I regret leaving her so much. 22
Expressing regrets in the present When we want to talk about regrets in the present and past we can use the words wish and if only. If we are talking about present regrets, the information after wish and if only are in past simple tense. If only I hadn t left my laptop behind I could have joined you at the library. If only I hadn t stay out so late last night I could go to the picnic. I wish I could trust you. I wish I hadn t left you in Berlin for so long. 23
Expressing regrets in the past Sometimes we will want to talk about regrets that have taken place in the past. In this case we follow wish and if only with the past perfect tense. I wish I hadn t agreed to her idea. I wish I had explored Barcelona more thoroughly. If only I had known you were in the city then. If only I hadn t eaten all of that chocolate cake last night. 24
To regret We use I should have + past participle to express regret about a personal action that took place in the past. I should have walked away from those people I should have raised my voice and spoken up. 25
Transform the regrets from present into past 1. I wish I bought tickets so I could join you! I wish I had bought tickets so I could join you! 2. If only you rode faster you could keep up! 3. I wish he spoke more clearly in the lecture. 4. I wish you called me more often. 5. If only I knew someone who understood me. 26
Reliability Do you have any regrets about things that have happened in the past? Talk to the teacher using the structures we have covered in class. 27
Write a letter Write a letter to your friend. You haven t seen them for a long time and since you last met you have been distressed about something you regret. Remember to use the structures covered in class to express your feelings accurately. 28
Counselling role play You and your teacher are going to undertake two short role plays. In the first role play, you will be the patient and your teacher will be the counsellor. In the second, swap roles. 29
Reflect on the goals Go back to the second slide of the lesson and check if you have achieved all the goals of the lesson. yes no 30
Reflect on this lesson Think about everything you have seen in this lesson. What were the most difficult activities or words? The easiest? + + If you have time, go over the most difficult slides again 31
Answer key Activity p. 26: 2. If only you had ridden faster you would have kept up, 3. I wish he had spoken more clearly in the lecture, 4. I wish you had called me more often, 5. If only I d have known someone who understood me. 32
Homework 33
Categorise the sentences I wish I expressed myself more clearly. I wish my teacher wasn t so mean to me. If only I bought a second ticket. I wish I had planned that move a little more. I wish I had taken more time with that essay. If only I had trained harder. I wish you understood how much I love you. If only I bought more strawberries! I wish I had understood how much you loved me. I wish I joined you at the canal. If only I had called the police earlier. I wish I had not stayed in that relationship. Regrets in the past Regrets in the present 34
Express regret You made a mistake at work today. Time to let your manager know about it. Try to use some of the structures in the lesson to express your regrets and to inform them it won t happen again. Remember too that this is a work email. Keep the register formal. To: manager@lingodaclass.com Subject: A note about today 35
About this material This material is proudly provided by and can be used by anyone for free and for any purpose. Who are we? Why learn English online? What kinds of English classes do we offer? Who are our English teachers? How do our English certificates work? We also have a language blog! 36