Page 116 - Grasp English B2 (Student Book)

9 Silver Screen

Grammar Wish clauses: present/past

A. Read the conversation and answer the questions.

1. What does the teenager regret because it’s too late to change it?
2. What behaviour does the teenager’s mother want to see?
3. What behaviour is it possible (but difficult) for the teenager to alter?

Teenager (huge sigh) Oh, I’m so miserable. I wish I hadn’t had that argument with Jade.

Mum Well, I’m sorry about it, but you’ve been moaning all day. I wish you’d stop. Why not phone
her and apologise?
Teenager I can’t do that. What if she refuses to answer me? She’s probably hoping never to see me
again.
Mum Don’t be silly. Of course, she isn’t. You’ve been good friends for ages. I know her parents
wouldn’t wish you to split up. They think you’re a good influence on her.
Teenager What? Me a good influence on Jade? Oh, come on!
Mum Yes, you help her with her homework and encourage her to work hard.
Teenager And she includes me in her popular group. She never leaves me alone. I wish I found it easier
to be sociable.
Mum You’ll be fine. You’re just a little shy. But right now, I wish you’d just get on and phone her.
Teenager Okay, okay. But I really wish I didn’t have to go to school tomorrow.

B. Which of these sentences are true for you? Why? D. Rewrite these sentences using wish
clauses.
a. I wish I was better at English.
b. I wish I’d studied more for my last test. 1. I don’t have enough money to go
to the cinema this weekend.
c. I wish I had less homework to do this evening.
2. I’ve just read a load of spoilers for
d. I wish I hadn’t gone to bed so late last night.
the new Marvel film on the internet.
e. I wish my parents would let me stay out later at
weekends. 3. Keanu Reeves hasn’t made a new
film for ages.
f. I wish my parents had encouraged me to take up more
hobbies when I was younger. 4. I’m not old enough to see that new
horror film in the cinema.
5. My parents don’t let me watch
C. Look at the statements above and complete the rules with
the correct tenses. horror films.
6. There are never any good films
a. To make a wish about something we want to change in nowadays.
the present, we use I wish followed by .
7. I didn’t get the chance to see Lord
b. To make a wish about something we want to change in of the Rings on the big screen.
the past, we use I wish followed by .
8. Location agents never choose my
c. To make a wish about a behaviour we want to change town to make a movie in.
in other people in the present, we use I wish [that
person] followed by .
d. To make a wish about a behaviour we want to change
in other people in the past, we use I wish [that person]
followed by .

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