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Expressing a wish or a regret: Use of I wish (εύχομαι) / if only (μακάρι)

The document discusses different ways to express wishes and regrets in English using "I wish" and "if only". It explains that there are three types of clauses: 1) Wishes for the present or future using the simple past tense, 2) Regrets for the past using the past perfect tense, and 3) Complaints using "I wish" + "would" + verb. Examples are provided for each structure along with explanations of their uses. Common exercises follow to practice forming wishes and regrets in different tenses.

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Aristea Mitrou
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47 views3 pages

Expressing a wish or a regret: Use of I wish (εύχομαι) / if only (μακάρι)

The document discusses different ways to express wishes and regrets in English using "I wish" and "if only". It explains that there are three types of clauses: 1) Wishes for the present or future using the simple past tense, 2) Regrets for the past using the past perfect tense, and 3) Complaints using "I wish" + "would" + verb. Examples are provided for each structure along with explanations of their uses. Common exercises follow to practice forming wishes and regrets in different tenses.

Uploaded by

Aristea Mitrou
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Expressing a wish or a regret

Use of I wish(εύχομαι) / if only (μακάρι) :

Υπάρχουν 3 είδη προτάσεων με τα I wish / if only :

1. Ευχές για το παρόν ή μέλλον βάζοντας το ρήμα στον αόριστο- simple


past.
2. Ευχές για το παρελθόν με υπερσυντέλικο- past perfect.
3. Παράπονα με το would + verb.

Expressing a wish -Εκφράζω μια ευχή για το παρόν ή μέλλον:

Form:

If only / I wish + simple past

Example:

If only I knew how to use a computer. (I don’t know how to use a computer and I
would like to learn how to use it)

Use:

 To express a wish in the present or in the future.


 The simple past here is an unreal past.
 When you use the verb to be the form is “were”.
Example:
I wish I were a millionaire!

Expressing regret – Εκφράζω ευχή για το παρελθόν (κάτι που


μετάνιωσα) :

Form:

If only / I wish + past perfect

Example:

If only I had woken up early. (I didn't wake up early and I missed my bus.)

Use:

 To express a regret.
 The action is past.
Complaining- Παράπονο - Ενόχληση:

Form:

I wish / if only + would + verb

Example:

I wish you wouldn't arrive so late all the time (I'm annoyed because you always
come late and I want you to arrive on time)

Use:

 To complain about a behavior that you disapprove.


 Expressing impatience, annoyance or dissatisfaction with a present
action.

Exercise 1
1.Tom wishes he……….. (have) more money so he could buy
a new sweater.

2. I wish I…………… (be) taller so that I could be in the


basketball team.

3. I wish you…………… (stop) watching television while I am


talking to you.

4. I wish you……………. (do) that. It annoys me.

5. I wish the holidays………… (come) so we could go off to the


seaside.

6. Of course Tom wishes he………….. (come) with us to Paris,


but he has to stay here.

7. I wish we…………….. (go) to the match on Saturday but


we're visiting my uncle.

8. I wish you…………. (keep) your mouth shut yesterday. Now


Mary knows.

9. If only I………… (lose) all my money. Now I'm broke.

10. Peter is always late. If only he……….. (turn up) on time for
a change!
UNREAL PAST

 I wish, I'd rather, as if, as though, it's high time, if


only = Past Tense (for present and future)

 example: I wish I knew how to dance.


If only I could speak Italian.

 I wish, I'd rather, as if, as though, if only = Past


Perfect (for past)

 example : I wish I had met him yesterday.


I'd rather he hadn't spent all his money.

 I' rather go. (now)


 I'd rather have gone. (past)
 I'd rather you went.(now)
 I'd rather you had gone.(past)

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