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Teacher cue
B1 · English Grammar

Wishes About
the Past

I wish I had studied harder.

wish + had past participle
The idea

Regrets — the past can't be changed

Wish + had + p.p.
Right thing — didn't happen

I wish I had brought a jacket.
(I didn't bring one — cold)

Wish + hadn't + p.p.
Wrong thing — did happen

She wishes she hadn't quit her job.
(she quit — now regrets it)

Wish vs reality

Every wish is the opposite of what happened

I wish I had brought a jacket.
→ I didn't bring one and got cold.
She wishes she hadn't quit her job.
→ She quit — now she regrets it.
We wish we had left earlier.
→ We left late and missed something.
Both forms

Wish + had / hadn't + past participle

I wish I had asked for help. (I didn't ask → regret)
I wish I hadn't said that. (I did say it → regret)
He wishes he had saved more money. (he/she → wishes)
Compare with should have

Wish vs should have

I wish I had studied more. (personal regret)
I should have studied more. (a judgment — it was the right thing to do)
Both look back at the past: wish + had + participle is a feeling; should have + participle is a judgment.
⚠ Watch out

Common mistakes

I wish I would have studied harder.

I wish I had studied harder.

She wish she hadn't said that.

She wishes she hadn't said that.

I wish I have asked for directions.

I wish I had asked for directions.

We wish we would have left earlier.

We wish we had left earlier.

Now it's your turn

Let's
practice.

Say the answer out loud — then tap to check.

Practice 1
tap to reveal

Fill the gap

I wish I(study)harder for the test.
She misses her bike. She wishes she(not / sell)her bike.
We wish we(leave)earlier.
He wishes he(not / eat)so much.
I wish I(bring)a jacket — it's freezing!
Practice 2
tap a sentence to reveal the error

Spot the mistake

I wish I had studiedA harder, but I wish I didn't wasteB so much time onC my phone lastD year.

Bbut I wish I didn't waste → but I wish I hadn't wasted

✓ a past regret → had + past participle

She wishes she had acceptedA the offer, becauseB the salary wasC excellent and the conditions was goodD.

Dand the conditions was good → and the conditions were good

✓ the conditions is plural → were

I wish I would have calledA her beforeB she leftC, butD I completely forgot.

AI wish I would have called → I wish I had called

✓ no would have after wish

Practice 3
tap to reveal a model answer

Complete the sentence

I wish I had studied harder
She wishes she hadn't quit her job —
We wish we had left earlier.
He wishes he hadn't eaten so much
Speak & write

Your turn

Use wish + had/hadn't + past participle.

Share a regret from school or university.
Something you did that you wish you hadn't done.
Something you didn't do that you wish you had done.
What do you wish you had started earlier in life?
Recap

Remember this

Didn't happen → regret
wish + had + p.p.
Did happen → regret
wish + hadn't + p.p.
he/she/it
wishes (not wish)
Never
"would have" in this pattern

Always "had" — never "would have" or "have" in a past wish.

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