COMMUNICATION

Expressing
wishes

LEVEL NUMBER LANGUAGE

Upper-Intermediate EN_B2_1034X English
(B2)

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 Learning outcomes

● I can distinguish between the

verbs to wish and to hope.

● I can express wishes about the

present and the past.

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 Warm-up
Have you ever made a wish before?

When did you make it?

What was it about?

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 Expressing wishes

● In English, we wish somebody something.

● e.g. we wish somebody luck, all the best and, of course, a happy birthday!

I wish you all the best for the future.

My auntie rang me last night to wish me a happy birthday.

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 I wish or I hope?

I hope you enjoy your holiday next week.

Thanks! I’m hoping we get good weather!

● We don’t say: I wish

something happens.

● Use hope for that:

● I hope (that)
something
happens

I wish you enjoy your holiday

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Let’s wish we get good weather
 Choose the correct option

1 Thank you very much for your purchase. We _______________ that you enjoy using it!

a. hope b. wish

2 The Said Family _______________ you all a very happy Eid Mubarak.

a. hopes b. wishes

3 _______________ you make a speedy recovery and get back on your feet soon!

a. hoping b. wishing

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 Expressing wishes about the present

● We use wish or if only + a past tense to make wishes about the present.

I wish I had more money.

If only we were lying on a beach right now!

We use a past tense here,

but the meaning is
7 present!
 Expressing wishes about the present

● With the verb to be, we use were with I / he / she / it instead of was.

I wish I were taller!

If only it were that simple!

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 If only life was that
easy!
Real-life language

However, in speaking, you will often hear

was and not were in this context.

Were is more commonly used in formal

settings or in writing.

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 Re-write with wish or if only
Read each situation. Re-write it with wish or if only.

1 I am not very tall. I wish I were taller.

2 I can’t speak perfect English

3 My hair isn’t curly.

4 My spelling is terrible.

5 I don’t have a dog.

6 I have to get up early every single day.

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 What would you change?
1. Think of three things you wish were different about your life. Use the questions below to
2. Write a sentence about each one and give a reason why. help you!

What’s a language you Where’s somewhere

would love to be able to you’ve always wanted to
speak, but can’t? live?

What’s a pet you’ve

What’s a talent you’ve
always dreamed of
always wanted to have?
having?

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 Expressing wishes about the past

● We use wish or if only + past perfect for wishes about the past.

I wish I had studied harder for the exam. I probably

wouldn’t have failed it!

If only I hadn’t spent so much money on clothes!

Past perfect
had + past participle
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 Expressing wishes about the past

● Another way of expressing a wish about the past is with should have + past participle.

I should have called him yesterday to wish him a happy

birthday. I can’t believe I forgot!

We really should have gone somewhere warmer on

holiday. It’s far too cold here!

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 Form sentences
Complete 4-6 with your own ideas.

I wish I had bought the tickets last

1 I wish / buy / the tickets last week.
week.

2 If only / I / let / them know about the party.

3 We / should / call / you sooner.

4 If only / we / make / more…

5 I wish / spend / less time…

6 I should / tell / you about…

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 Write a bucket list
Write a list of 5 things you hope to do before you die. Here are six photos to
inspire you!

1 4

2 5

3 6

Keep your list! You’ll

need it on the next slide.
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 Interview a classmate
1. Imagine you and your classmates are all 85 years old.
2. Interview a classmate about their life in breakout rooms.
3. Share their biggest regret with the class.

1 What’s something you dreamed of doing and did?

2 What are some things you wish you had done?

3 What’s one thing you should have done more of?

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 Let’s reflect

● Can you distinguish between the

verbs to wish and to hope?

● Can you express wishes about the

present and the past?

Your teacher will now make one suggestion

for improvement for each student.

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End of the lesson

Idiom

ask for the moon

Meaning: to ask for something that is difficult or impossible to get

Example: I wish I had a decent paying job. I’m hardly asking for the moon here!
Additional practice

Additional practice

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 Fill in the gaps
Be careful with your tenses!
Additional practice

1. What I said was unkind. I’m sorry, I wish I

_______________ it. (not / say)

2. You gave me some good tips. I wish I _______________

your advice. (take)

3. If only we _______________earlier. (meet)

4. I wish I _______________ you yesterday, but I need to

leave early today. (tell)

5. If only we _______________ for lunch on the way to the

airport. We would have caught the flight! (not / stop)

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 Write a sentence for each person
Share your sentences with the class.
Additional practice

What should or shouldn’t each of

these people have done?

Tim Terry Jenny George

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 Writing
1. Read the prompt below.
Additional practice

2. Write a short email of 60-80 words.

Imagine you left your job last year to find

a better one. However, since then things
haven’t turned out how you’d planned.

Write an email to a friend saying what

you wish you’d done instead and why.

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 Answer key

P. 6: 1. a, 2. b, 3. a
P. 9: 2. I wish/if only I could speak perfect English.
3. I wish/if only my hair was (or were) curly.
4. I wish/if only my spelling wasn’t (or weren’t) terrible.
5. I wish/if only I had a dog.
6. I wish/if only I didn’t have to get up early every single day.
P. 13: 2. If only I had let them know about the party.
3. We should have called you sooner.
4. If only they had made more..
5. I wish I had spent less time…
6. I should have told you about…
P. 19: 1. hadn’t said.
2. had taken.
3. had spoken.
4. had told.
5. hadn’t stopped

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 Notes

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