Cover of the textbook On Screen B1+ - Student's Book

The key answer of exercise 5

The key to exercise solutions in chapter 7c - Grammar in use for the textbook On Screen B1+ - Student's Book with authors Virginia Evans and Jenny Dooley from Express Publishing

Question

  1. Read the table. What words are used to introduce wishes? What tenses are used after these words? Find examples in the magazine extract on p. 106.
  2. What does each person wish for? Write sentences, as in the example.

Answer

  1. I wish / If only; past simple = a wish about a present / future situation; past perfect = a regret about a past situation; model = a regret in the present; Examples: I wish I were thinner. I wish I didn't have so many spots.
  2. 1) I wish / If only I had gone to the gym. I wish / If only I didn't have to work late.; 2) I wish / If only I could cook. I wish / If only I stopped eating ready-made meals.; 3) I wish / If only I had eaten breakfast. I wish / If only I weren't starving now.; 4) I wish / If only I had trained more. I wish / If only I hadn't lost the race.; 5) I wish / If only I hadn't drunk coffee after dinner. I wish / If only I had slept well.; 6) I wish / If only I weren't on a diet. I wish / If only I could have desserts.