Using: WISH

Talking about the present

• If only I didn’t have so much homework I could go to the concert tonight. She has a lot of homework and she can’t go to the concert.
• I wish you didn’t live so far away.
• I wish I knew what to do.

When we talk about present regrets, both wish and if only are followed by the past simple tense. The past tense emphasises that we are talking about something ‘unreal’.

Talking about the past

• I wish I’d studied harder when I was at school. He didn’t study harder when he was at school.
• I wish I hadn’t eaten all that chocolate. I feel sick.
• If only I’d known you were coming.

Both wish and if only are followed by the past perfect tense when we talk about past regrets.

Wish/if only and would

We use wish + would to talk about something in the present that we would like to change – usually something that we find annoying.

• I wish you wouldn’t borrow my clothes without asking.
• I wish it would rain. The garden really needs some water.
• I wish you’d give up smoking. it’s really bad for you.

NB We can only use wish + would to talk about things we can’t change.

So I wish I wouldn’t eat so much chocolate is not possible although we can say I wish I didn’t eat so much chocolate.

PRACTICE:

1. http://www.examenglish.com/grammar/wish_if_only.htm

2. http://www.eflnet.com/grammar/wish.php

3. http://www.better-english.com/grammar/wishes.htm

If only I didn't have to study English grammar ...

Use of I wish / if only:

There are three distinct types of  I wish / if only  sentences:

1. Wish, wanting change for the present or future with the simple past.
2. Regret with the past perfect.
3. Complaints with would + verb.

See below for grammar explanation

Click here for practice 1

Click here for practice 2

Expressing a wish:

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:

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:

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.

Explanation from My English Pages 

Online Grammar practice

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Our Christmas present to you .... homework :)

Only kidding! Here is a list of useful links for English practice over the holidays.

Have fun!
K&G

Listening:

TV and Film

Radio

Ted Talks

-Beginners -Elementary

Click here for course book practice

Elementary podcasts

Listening: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/big-city-small-world

Pre-Intermediate - Intermediate

Elementary podcasts

Listening: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/big-city-small-world

English in everyday life: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/word-street

UK Culture: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/uk-culture

Fun and games: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/fun-and-games

Business and work: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/business-and-work

Grammar and vocab: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/grammar-and-vocabulary

Upper Intermediate and Advanced

Online Practice

Quizzes

Quizzes 2

UK Culture: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/uk-culture

Fun and games: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/fun-and-games

Phrasal Verbs - B1 homework

• I heard a strange noise from my bike, but I kept on cycling
  

• After few km I couldn't shift gears because the shiftgear broke down 

• After A few kms I couldn't shift gears because the shift gear HAD brokeN down 

• Tomorrow I will take it to the mechanic, I hope to get it back soon

• I lost my notes, they turned up only after the exam.

• Mario is never on time, He make up some excuses every times.
• Mario is never on time, He makeS up some excuses every time.

1. The cash machine is broken down. Could lend me € 100? I'll pay you back tomorrow.
2. The cash machine HAS broken down. Could lend me € 100? I'll pay you back tomorrow.

1. Have you ever looked after a pet? Yes, I look after the neighbours cat when they are away
2. Have you ever looked after a pet? Yes, I looked after the neighbour’s cat when they are away

1. Why didn't you come to Barbara's birthday? My car broke down and I had to call the car mechanic and wait until 11 pm

1. If you ask for the bill in a restaurant and it is a bit pricey, how do you do? I call the waiter and I ask for explanations
2. If you asked for the bill in a restaurant and it WAS a bit pricey, WHAT WOULD you do? I’d call the waiter and I ask for AN explanation

5) How did you celebrate your degree? I took my parents and friends out for a dinner

Creativity - conversation class 8/4/2014

Hi everyone,
Here you can find the video from yesterday's lesson:

For listening practice, please watch this link:
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/britain-great/creativity-great-part-1

If you like, you can try the tasks at the bottom of the page too.

For grammar practice, please see:
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs5.htm

For, in, on, to or from?!

Check out this list of common verb + prepositions:

FOR	IN	ON	TO	FROM
apologise for	participate in	focus on	object to	suffer from
hope for	be inherent in	insist on	be allergic to	choose from
wait for	be lacking in	concentrate on	belong to	recover from
pay for	believe in	depend on	subject to	save s/o from

Tip!
When you come across new verbs, always write them down and learn them with their preposition if they have one.

Exercise:
How many phrases can you write using the verbs above?

4 ways to use SHOULD

Should I stay or should I go?

"Should" is most commonly used to make recommendations or give advice. It can also be used to express obligation as well as expectation.

Examples:

1. Recommendation

• When you go to Berlin, you should visit the palaces in Potsdam. 

2. Advice

• You should focus more on your family and less on work.

3. Obligation

• I really should be in the office by 7:00 AM. 

4. Expectation

• By now, they should already be in Dubai.

Need practice? Check out these links:

Test your modals: 

click here for explanation of should and shouldn't plus plus quick grammar quiz

click here for a quick quiz to test your knowledge of common modals - easy

click here for a quick quiz to test your knowledge of common modals - medium

*Conversation Class 9/10/2013

Conversation Class 9/7/2013 - Rachel's Interview

Here's the clip we watched yesterday!

This is a slightly longer version with the subtitles:

If you want to watch it without subtitles, click here.

Remember:

To give advice we often use: should and shouldn't:

Should = it's a good idea

Shouldn't = it's not a good idea.

Watch out! Don't have to means that it isn't necessary

You don't have to come to the party tonight (if you don't want to).

What is the difference in meaning?!:

1. You mustn't wear jeans
2. You shouldn't wear jeans
3. You don't have to wear jeans

"Do you have any news?" v "Do you have some news?"

This question came up in class yesterday ...

What is the difference between asking:

Do you have any information about the project?
and
Do you have some information about the project?


The most simple answer is:

• If you expect the answer to be either Yes or No, use "any".

• If you expect the answer to be Yes, use "some".

For example: if I said, "Do you have some news for me?",  it would mean I was expecting news; that I knew there was news and I wanted you to tell me what it was.

If I said "Do you have any news?" it would mean there might not be any news.

Translation:

Do you have any info about the project?  --  Hai qualche informazione sul progetto?

Do you have some info about the project? -- Hai un po 'di informazioni sul progetto?

Compare:

Do you have any time tomorrow? -> Suggests that I know you are always very busy.

Do you have some time tomorrow? -> I'm expecting that you will have time tomorrow.