Look at this photograph:
Does the box fit his small car?
If only he had a big car!!
Look at this photograph:
Is he tall enough for the rollercoaster?
Luis wishes he were taller!!
We use The Subjunctive (the past of a verb) to express situations that are not possible in the present, but you wish them to be true.
In the interrogative form we hace 2 options. To use a yes no question or a wh question.
Do you like cars?
Yes, I do. No, I don’t.
Does he play baseball?
Yes, he does. No, he doesn’t.
By the end of this topic, you will:
Identify the use of the subjunctive and express wishes and opinions about hypothetical situations.
Use the subjunctive (the past of a verb) after wish or If only to express that something is not as we would like it to be.
Now listen to each expression:
Tumisu. (2014). Mapa, ubicación. Retrieved 02/02/17 from https://pixabay.com/p-525349/?no_redirect
I wish I knew Patricia’s address. (But I don’t know it).
Susan wishes she could fly. (But she can’t).
Sandra wishes she could visit her grandma in Italy. (But she can’t do it because she has no money)
It’s raining really heavily. Charlie wishes he had an umbrella. (But he doesn’t and he’s wet now)
We wish we had a bigger house. (But our house is really small).
I wish I didn’t have to work tomorrow, but I have to go to the office.
Mary and Raul wish they didn’t smoke that much. They smoke a package of cigarettes every day.
I wish I were rich. (But I’m not loaded)
Diego wishes he were taller (But he’s 1.50 meters)
We wish we were on vacation.
(But we won’t be on vacation until next year).
I wish you weren’t so unpunctual. (But you are unpunctual)
Kira wishes she weren’t at school right now. (But she is there now)
They wish their plane weren’t delayed. (But the flight was cancelled).
If only their plane weren’t delayed.
I wish I had given you a better present.
If only I had given you a better present.
I wish you had arrived on time.
If only she had told me about the news before.
Activity 1
If only can be used to express something that happened but you wish it were different. Like the dramatic sinking of the RSL Titanic.
What do you know about the Titanic? Do you think things would have been different if it hadn’t sunk?
Read the text about the Titanic:
2. Now choose the most appropriate option for the following statements. At the end of the exercise, you can know your score. You have only two attempts.
Activity 2
If you received an inheritance, what would you do? How much money would you need to consider yourself an affluent person? What would you do if you had all the money in the world?
Listen to this conversation and answer the exercise.
Activity 3
How often do you wish things to be different in your life?
Take a look at the following pics and write a sentence related to each photograph using I wish / If only.
Take a look at the following pics and write a sentence related to each photograph using I wish / If only.
Your text should be no longer than 25 words. Be aware of spelling, punctuation and structure mistakes. Revise your text before grading it. You can take a look at the example so you can have a clear idea of what it is expected from you in this activity. It will help you evaluate your text more manageable. Look at the example so you can have a clear idea of the sentences you have to produce. Be aware of punctuation, spelling and grammar.
Activity 4
Look at these verbs:
Select ten verbs and write sentences with I wish / If only. Write and record your sentences in 10 minutes.
Before recording yourself, study the aspects that will be evaluated, they are described in the following rubrics. Besides, you can listen to the example provided so you can have a clear idea of what to do in this activity.
Activity 5
Think of some events you wish you had done differently in your life.
Record 10 sentences using I wish / If only, for example:
Record your sentences in 5 minutes.
Before recording yourself, study the aspects that will be evaluated, they are described in the following rubrics. Also, you can listen to the example provided so you can have a clear idea of what to do in this activity.
Read the events and write a hypothetical answer.
Drag the different options to the appropriate spaces from the right side to complete the sentences.
Murphy, R. (2012). English Grammar in Use. Intermediate. Cambridge: CUP [4th ed]
BBC. (2209). Learning English: Past = present or future: unreal uses of past forms. Retrieved 12/12/16 from.https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv347.shtml
British Council. (2009). Learning English: Wish and If only. Retrieved 12/12/16 from .https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/es/grammar-exercises/wish-and-if-only
