Using wish; using if

13-1 EXPRESSING WISHES ABOUT THE PRESENT/FUTURE

The true situation	Expressing a wishabout that situation	People often make wishes when they want reality to be different, to be exactly the opposite of the true situation. A noun clause usually follows wish.Special verb forms are used in the noun clause. When a speaker expresses a wish about a present situation, s/he uses a past verb form.
I don’t know how to a) I wish I knewhow to dance. dance.
I don’t have a bike. b) I wish I had a bike.
Ron has to work c) Ron wishes he didn’t have tonight. worktonight.
I can’t speak Chinese. d) I wish I could speak Chinese. I’m not home in bed. e) I wish I werehome in bed. It’s cold today. f) I wish it weren’t cold today. We aren’t in Hawaii. g) We wish we werein Hawaii.

Exercise 1: Use the given information to complete the sentences.

1. I don’t have a car. I wish I had a car.

2. Alice doesn’t have a car. Alice wishes she __________.

3. I have a cold. I wish I __________________.

4. I don’t know how to swim. I wish I __________________.

5. I live in the dorm. I wish I __________________.

6. I can’t speak French. I wish I __________________.

7. It isn’t Saturday. I wish it __________________.

8. I have to study for a test. I wish I ____________________.

9. Bob has to get up at 6:00 a.m. Bob wishes he ______________.

10. Mary isn’t here. I wish Mary ________________.

Exercise 2: Study the examples and then complete the sentences.

1. I don’t have a car, but I wish I did.

2. I have to study tonight, but I wish I ____________________.

3. I can’t speak Italian, but I wish I ______________________.

4. I’m not tall, but I wish I _____________________________.

5. I don’t know Mary Smith, but I wish I _________________.

6. I can’t dance very well, but I wish I ____________________.

7. I have to take a history course, but I wish I _______________.

8. I’m not a good cook, but I wish I _______________________.

9. Jack has to go to the Laundromat, but he wishes he __________.

10. It’s too cold to go swimming today, but I wish it ____________.

11. Sally can’t afford to take a vacation in Hawaii, but she wishes she _________.

12. I have to clean my apartment, but I wish I ____________________.

Exercise 3: Complete the following conversations.

1. A: Can you go to Jim’s party tonight?

B: No, I can’t, but I wish I could.

2. A: Are you a good musician?

B: No, __________, but I wish _________________.

3. A: Do you smoke?

B: Yes, ___________. but I wish _________________.

4. A: Does your son know how to play a musical instrument?

B: No, ___________. but I wish ___________________.

5. A: Do you have to take the bus to work?

B: Yes, __________. but I wish _________________.

6. A: Is Maria in your class?

B: No, ________, but I wish ______________.

7. A: Do you understand what Professor Martin is taking about?

B: No, ___________, but I wish ___________________.

8. A: Do you know the people who live in the apartment next to yours?

B: No, ____________, but I wish _________________.

9. A: Is your roommate neat?

B: No, __________, but I wish __________.

10. A: Are the students always on time for class?

B: No, __________, but I wish _____________.

11. A: Do you have enough time to drink a cup of coffee between classes?

B: No, __________, but I wish ___________________________.

12. A: Can you come over to my house for dinner tomorrow night?

B: I’m sorry, but I ________. I wish __________________.

13. A: Is there a grocery store near your apartments?

B: No, ___________, but I wish _______________.

14. A: Is there a museum in this town?

B: No, _________, but I wish _____________.

13-2 EXPRESSSING WISHES ABOUT THE PAST

The true situation	Making a wish about the Past	The past perfect is used after wishwhen people make wishes about a past time
I didn’t study for the test a) I wish I had studied for the test Jim didn’t finish his work b) Jim wishes he had finished his work I went to the meeting c) I wish I hadn’t gone to the meeting