1. Look at the pictures and write what each person wishes, using the words given.
Answer
2 I wish I had a car.
3 I wish I worked in an office.
4 I wish I lived with my son.
5 I wish I could dance.
6 I wish I didn’t live in a city.
7 I wish I were/was a helicopter pilot.
8 I wish I didn’t have short hair.
2. Jake and Martin share a room at college. Read what they say about each other. Then write sentences beginning I wish he would / wouldn’t.
MARTIN
It’s dreadful having to share a room with Jake. He borrows my phone without asking. He never washes his coffee mug and he’s so untidy! He leaves his shoes lying around the room and drops his clothes on my chair – the room’s such a mess I can’t work. And he comes in late in the evening and doesn’t remember I go to sleep early. Then he lies in bed playing computer games. I can’t stand it! I’m going to look for a room on my own.
JAKE
The trouble with Martin is that he never relaxes. He works so hard. He gets angry when I just make a phone call. And he interferes with my possessions. He moves my shoes and clothes around so I can’t find them. He throws my shoes on my bed. He never plays computer games with me. He wakes me up when he goes out for a run early in the morning. He’s no fun to share a room with.
Martin says:
I wish Jake wouldn’t borrow my phone without asking.
………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………
Jake says:
I wish Martin would relax sometimes.
………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………
Answer
Example answers:
Martin:
I wish he’d wash his coffee mug.
I wish he wouldn’t leave his shoes lying around the room.
I wish he wouldn’t drop his clothes on my chair.
I wish he wouldn’t come in late.
I wish he’d remember I go to sleep early.
I wish he wouldn’t lie in bed playing computer games.
Jake:
I wish he wouldn’t work so hard.
I wish he didn’t get so angry when I make a phone call.
I wish he wouldn’t interfere with my possessions.
I wish he wouldn’t move my shoes and clothes around so I can’t find them.
I wish he wouldn’t throw my shoes on my bed.
I wish he’d play computer games with me sometimes.
I wish he wouldn’t wake me up when he goes for a run.
I wish he were/was fun to share a room with.
3. Complete the conversations using wish.
1
SUE: My mother’s really angry with me.
CLAIRE: Why?
SUE: Because she’s found out where I was last weekend.
CLAIRE: Oh, yes. I told her.
SUE: Well, I …wish you hadn’t told…… (not / tell) her. It’s not your business.
CLAIRE: I’m sorry.
2
TONY: Have you seen Ben’s new jacket? I bet it was expensive.
ANA: He told me it cost him 700 euros.
TONY: Wow! I …………………………… (have) as much money as him.
ANA: Well, you may not be rich, but you’re much better looking than Ben.
TONY: Am I?
3
GARY: You seem to enjoy dancing with Luke.
JANE: Yes, I do. He’s a very good dancer.
GARY: I …………………………… (learn) to dance when I was young.
JANE: You could learn now.
GARY: Oh, I’d feel stupid in a dancing class at my age.
4
EVA: I went to Indonesia last month.
MAY: Really? My brother’s working in Jakarta now.
EVA: I …………………………… (realise). I could have met up with him.
MAY: Yes, it’s a pity. You must tell me if you’re going there again.
5
FREDDIE: My parents moved to São Paulo last month.
ALI: How do they like it?
FREDDIE: My mother likes it, but my father misses the sea. He …………………………… (not / move) there.
ALI: Perhaps he’ll get used to it.
FREDDIE: I doubt it.
6
LUCY: You haven’t seen my phone, have you?
CHLOE: No, I haven’t.
LUCY: I …………………………… (know) what I’d done with it.
CHLOE: I hope you didn’t leave it in the taxi.
LUCY: So do I!
7
KAY: My brothers are digging a swimming pool.
JILL: That sounds like hard work!
KAY: It is. Actually, I suspect they …………………………… (never / start). But they can’t stop now. There’s a great big hole in the middle of the garden!
JILL: Yes, I see what you mean.
Answer
2 wish I had
3 wish I’d learned/learnt
4 wish I’d realised
5 wishes they hadn’t moved
6 wish I knew
7 wish they’d never started