Step 71: I Wish…
Wishes and regrets — Wish and if only
📖 Read — Three Kinds of Wishes
On a rainy Friday, three friends are wishing. “I wish I lived in California,” says Tom, looking at the gray sky. “I wish the rain would stop!” — that's Emma, watching the window. “And I,” sighs Jack, “I wish I had studied harder for yesterday's test.”
Miss Taylor, who is listening, smiles. “Three wishes, three grammars! A wish about NOW uses the past: I wish I lived… A wish about a habit or the weather uses would: I wish it would stop. And a wish about the PAST uses the past perfect: I wish I had studied. But remember, friends — be careful what you wish for. Sometimes the rain is exactly what the garden needs.”
🧩 Grammar — Wish and If Only — Three Tenses of Longing
I wish / If only (stronger) + past simple = a wish about the PRESENT that isn't true: I wish I lived near the beach. If only I knew the answer! + past perfect = regret about the PAST: I wish I had studied. + would = wishing for a change or an annoying habit to stop: I wish you would listen! I wish it would stop raining. Note: you can't say 'I wish I would…' about yourself — use I wish I could…
- I wish I were taller.
- If only we had left earlier!
- I wish the bus would come.
- I wish I could fly.
🏗️ Key structures
- I wish I ___ (present wish) — I wish I spoke Spanish fluently.
- I wish I had ___ (past regret) — I wish I had saved more money.
- I wish ___ would ___ (change!) — I wish it would stop raining.
⭐ Idiom & natural phrases
He wanted fame — but be careful what you wish for!
🔤 New words
a strong wish for something
Her desire to travel grew every year.
making you feel a little angry or impatient
That noise is really annoying.
a large amount of money and valuable things
Wealth doesn't always bring happiness.
a natural ability to do something very well
She has a talent for music.
calm and quiet; no war or fighting
He enjoys the peace of the mountains.
no sound at all (you met this in stories)
I wish for a little silence to think.
bravery; doing something even when it's scary
It takes courage to speak in public.
being able to do what you want and go where you want
Travel gives me a feeling of freedom.
🎧 Say it with me
I wish I lived near the beach. I wish I had studied harder, and I wish the rain would stop!
🎤 Your turn to speak
Make three wishes out loud: one about your present life (wish + past), one regret (wish + past perfect), and one change you want (wish + would).
Say it out loud three times. Even better: record it on your phone and listen — your ear is your best teacher.
✍️ Your turn to write
Write 4 wish sentences: present wish, past regret, a would-wish about the weather or a habit, and an If only sentence.
See a model answer
I wish I had more free time in the evenings. I wish I had learned to swim as a child. I wish my little brother would stop taking my headphones! And if only I could visit Hawaii this summer — that would be a dream.
Self-check: capital letters? Full stops? Did you use the grammar of this step?
📝 Quick check
Go deeper
This step is a doorway — the full lesson goes much further:
🎉 Saved in your progress!