ENGLISH LESSON: “I WISH…”

Level: B1+/B2 • Length: 60 minutes • Focus: Wish + past simple / Wish + would

L esson aims

• Use wish + past simple to talk about present situations we would like to be different.

• Use wish + would + infinitive to talk about behaviour or situations we want to change.

• Understand the difference in tone between the two structures.

• Use both structures naturally in conversation.

1. Warm-up: “If only…” | 7 minutes

Start by asking the student:

• What’s one thing about your life that you wish were different?

• What’s something that annoys you regularly?

Useful prompts: your home, job, free time, weather, city, English, technology, transport.

Examples:

• I wish I had more free time.

• I wish I lived closer to work.

• I wish the weather were better.

• I wish my computer wouldn’t crash so often.

Teacher note: Don’t explain the grammar yet. Let the student speak and note useful errors for later.

2. Discover the grammar | 8 minutes

Show the student these sentences:

• I wish I had more free time.

• I wish my neighbour would stop making so much noise.

• I wish I lived somewhere warmer.

• I wish my computer wouldn’t crash so often.

Ask:

• Are these things true now, or are they different from reality?

• Which sentences describe a situation?

• Which describe behaviour we want to change?

Grammar rule: WISH + PAST SIMPLE

Use this when we want the present situation to be different.

• I wish I had more money.

• I wish I lived closer to the city centre.

• I wish I were more confident.

Grammar rule: WISH + WOULD + INFINITIVE

Use this when we want someone or something to change its behaviour. It often expresses frustration.

• I wish my neighbour would stop shouting.

• I wish my boss would listen to me.

• I wish my car would start properly.

3. The important difference | 7 minutes

Ask: Which one sounds more annoyed? → would

Discuss:

• I wish my boss didn’t call me so late.

• I wish my boss wouldn’t call me so late.

• I wish my neighbours weren’t so noisy.

• I wish my neighbours wouldn’t be so noisy.

4. Controlled practice | 8 minutes

Complete the sentences with the correct form.

1. I wish I ______ (have) more free time.

2. I wish my phone ______ (work) properly.

3. I wish I ______ (live) closer to the city centre.

4. I wish my neighbour ______ (stop) playing loud music.

5. I wish it ______ (not rain) so much.

6. I wish my computer ______ (not crash) all the time.

7. I wish I ______ (speak) English more confidently.

8. I wish my colleagues ______ (not complain) so much.

Answers

1. had 2. would work 3. lived 4. would stop 5. wouldn’t rain 6. wouldn’t crash 7. spoke 8. wouldn’t complain

5. “What’s annoying you?” | 8 minutes

1. Your phone battery dies very quickly. → I wish my phone…

2. Your neighbour plays loud music every night. → I wish my neighbour…

3. You don’t have enough holidays. → I wish I…

4. Your computer is extremely slow. → I wish my computer…

5. You live far from your friends. → I wish I…

6. It rains every weekend. → I wish it…

After each answer, ask: Why?

6. “Wish list” | 10 minutes

Imagine you could change five things about your life, your city or the world. Make a wish list.

• 2 wishes about your life: I wish I had… / I wish I lived…

• 2 wishes about other people’s behaviour: I wish people would… / I wish my colleagues would…

• 1 wish about the world: I wish governments would… / I wish the world were…

Discuss each wish with follow-up questions such as: Why? What would you do differently? Is it realistic?

7. Challenge: “Wish or not?” | 7 minutes

• Your friend is always late. → I wish my friend ______.

• You live in a small apartment. → I wish I ______.

• Your boss constantly interrupts you. → I wish my boss ______.

• You don’t speak German. → I wish I ______ German.

• Your car won’t start. → I wish my car ______.

• Your city is very expensive. → I wish my city ______.

Teacher answers:

• wouldn’t always be late / would arrive on time

• had a bigger apartment

• would stop interrupting me

• spoke

• would start

• weren’t so expensive

8. Final speaking task | 5 minutes

“If I could change five things…”

Tell the student: You have a magic button. You can change five things about your present life, but only five. What do you change?

Requirement: at least 2 examples of wish + past simple and 2 examples of wish + would.

Example:

• I wish I had more free time.

• I wish I lived closer to the mountains.

• I wish my computer would stop crashing.

• I wish people wouldn’t use their phones so much.

Final question: Which of your wishes would actually be possible to change?

Homework: My 10 Wishes

Write 10 sentences beginning with “I wish…”

• 3 wishes about yourself

• 3 wishes about other people’s behaviour

• 2 wishes about your city/country

• 2 wishes about the world

Then choose your three most important wishes and explain why.

Quick reference

Common mistake: For a present situation, say “I wish I had more free time,” not “I wish I would have more free time.”