B2 Lesson — I Wish / If Only
B2 · Exam Preparation · Subjunctive Mood

I Wish &
If Only

Master regret, complaints & hypothetical desires.
Four complete exercises — over 60 sentences to practise!

“If only grammar were as simple as wishing it were…”

⏱ 60 min
📊 65 pts
🧩 4 exercises
💬 6 speaking cards
🎓 Level B2
Write your name to begin / Wpisz swoje imię, aby zacząć

Progress

☀️

Warm-Up

Think & discuss before we begin

Question 1

Think of one thing you regret from the past. How would you express it in English?

💭 Try: “If only I had…” or “I wish I hadn’t…”

Question 2

Is there something annoying that someone in your life keeps doing? How would you complain about it using “I wish”?

💭 Think about: does “I wish” + would sound different from “I wish” + past simple?

Question 3

Look at these two sentences. What is the difference?
“I wish I knew the answer.”  vs.  “I wish I had known the answer.”

💭 Think about: when did (or didn’t) the knowing happen?

📖

Key Vocabulary

Words and phrases for this lesson

regret
noun / verb
A feeling of sadness about something that happened or didn’t happen.
“I have no regrets” / “I regret not going to that concert.”
żałować / żal
hypothetical
adjective
Imagined or supposed — not real; based on a possibility.
“This is a hypothetical situation — it didn’t happen.”
hipotetyczny
subjunctive
noun / adjective
A grammatical mood used for wishes, doubts, and hypothetical situations.
“I wish he were here” — ‘were’ is the subjunctive form.
tryb łączący
irritation
noun
Mild anger or frustration, often caused by a repeated behaviour.
“My flatmate’s snoring is a constant source of irritation.”
irytacja / rozdrażnienie
unreal condition
noun phrase
A situation that is contrary to reality — the opposite of the truth.
“I wish I were taller” — but I’m NOT taller in reality.
warunek nierzeczywisty
complaint
noun
An expression of dissatisfaction or annoyance about something.
“His constant complaints about the food drive me mad.”
skarga / narzekanie
desire
noun / verb
A strong wish or longing for something to happen or exist.
“She has a deep desire to travel the world.”
pragnienie / pragnąć
circumstance
noun
The conditions or facts surrounding a situation or event.
“Under different circumstances, I’d have studied abroad.”
okoliczność / sytuacja
imply
verb
To suggest something without saying it directly.
“Using ‘wish + past perfect’ implies the time for change has passed.”
sugerować / implikować
contrary to fact
phrase
The opposite of what is actually true.
“I wish I could fly” — this is contrary to fact.
sprzeczny z rzeczywistością
📰

Reading

Read the texts and answer the comprehension questions

📝 Text A
Letter to My Younger Self

If I could write a letter to my younger self, there are so many things I’d want to say. I wish I had worked harder at school — not because of the grades, but because learning genuinely fascinates me now. If only I had taken that year abroad when I had the chance! I was too afraid, and I’ll always regret it.

I also wish I hadn’t spent so much time worrying about what other people thought of me. If only someone had told me earlier that most people are too busy worrying about themselves to notice your mistakes. I wish I were that confident young person I always imagined I would become. But perhaps that’s what makes us human — the gap between what we wish for and what actually is.
📝 Text B
A Flatmate Problem

Living with other people can be wonderful — but also deeply frustrating. My flatmate Bartek is a lovely person, but I wish he wouldn’t leave dirty dishes in the sink for three days straight. I’ve asked him many times. If only he would listen!

I also wish our flat were bigger. The living room is so cramped that I can barely move. And I wish the landlord would fix the heating — it broke last November and we’ve been cold ever since. I know I should probably find a new flat, but if only moving weren’t so expensive and exhausting. For now, I’ll just keep wishing.
Comprehension Questions · 5 points

Choose the best answer. / Wybierz najlepszą odpowiedź.

1. The writer regrets not taking a year abroad. What reason do they give?
2. What does the writer wish about other people’s opinions?
3. In Text B, which of Bartek’s habits is most annoying to the writer?
4. Which structure would correctly complete: “I wish the heating _____ months ago.”
5. The phrase “the gap between what we wish for and what actually is” refers to…
📐

Grammar Focus

I Wish / If Only — three key structures

🇬🇧 English

I wish and If only are used to express regret, dissatisfaction, and hypothetical desires. The tense you use after them tells us when the unreal situation is — past, present, or habitual.

🇵🇱 Polski

I wish i If only wyrażają żal, niezadowolenie i hipotetyczne pragnienia. Czas użyty po nich mówi nam kiedy sytuacja jest nierealna — w przeszłości, teraźniejszości lub jako nawyk.

StructureFormMeaningExample
Present / Future
unreal state		 wish/if only + Past Simple
(was → were)		 Reality is the opposite right now, or we want a different present/future situation. “I wish I were taller.”
“If only I had more time.”
Past regret wish/if only + Past Perfect Something happened (or didn’t happen) in the past and we can’t change it. “I wish I had studied harder.”
“If only I hadn’t said that.”
Annoying habit / desired change in behaviour wish/if only + would + V1 We want someone (or something) to behave differently. Cannot refer to the speaker’s own behaviour. “I wish you wouldn’t shout.”
“If only it would stop raining.”
Unreal ability wish/if only + could + V1 We want an ability we don’t have in reality. “I wish I could sing.”
“If only I could drive.”
🇬🇧 Key Rule

Use were (not “was”) in formal/exam English: “I wish I were rich.”
Use would for someone else’s behaviour — not for states or the speaker themselves.

🇵🇱 Kluczowa zasada

Użyj were (nie “was”) w formalnym/egzaminacyjnym angielskim: “I wish I were rich.”
Would stosujemy dla zachowania innej osoby — nie dla stanów ani nie w odniesieniu do siebie.

⚠️ Common Mistakes / Typowe błędy
❌ I wish I would be taller.
✅ I wish I were taller. (state — not behaviour)
❌ I wish I would study harder.
✅ I wish I studied harder. (your own behaviour)
❌ I wish I had study harder at school.
✅ I wish I had studied harder at school.
❌ If only he stops talking!
✅ If only he would stop talking!
✍️

Exercise 1 — Tense Mastery

Complete with the correct form of the verb · 15 points

EN: Complete each sentence using the correct form of the verb in brackets. Choose from: Past Simple, Past Perfect, or would + infinitive.
PL: Uzupełnij każde zdanie używając poprawnej formy czasownika w nawiasie. Wybierz spośród: Past Simple, Past Perfect lub would + bezokolicznik.
1
I wish I (have) a bigger car; this one is too small.
2
If only we (not / miss) the train this morning!
3
I wish the wind (blow) less strongly; I’m trying to walk!
4
I wish I (know) how to play the piano when I was a kid.
5
My brother wishes he (not / have) to work this weekend.
6
I wish you (not / keep) interrupting me while I’m speaking.
7
If only I (listen) to my parents’ advice five years ago.
8
I wish it (be) summer right now; I hate the cold.
9
I wish they (offer) me the job, but they chose someone else.
10
I wish my phone (not / run) out of battery so fast.
11
If only you (be) here to see this sunset with me.
12
I wish the government (do) something about inflation soon.
13
I wish I (save) more money when I was younger.
14
I wish my roommate (wash) his dishes more often!
15
If only I (can) fly; I would travel the whole world.
⚡

Exercise 2 — The “Would” vs “Had” Challenge

Choose the correct form · 15 points

EN: Write the correct form: would + verb (to change behaviour/desired future) or Past Simple / Past Perfect (to change a state or express past regret).
PL: Wpisz poprawną formę: would + czasownik (by zmienić zachowanie / wyraźić pragnienie na przyszłość) lub Past Simple / Past Perfect (aby zmienić stan lub wyrazić żal za przeszłością).
1
I wish it (stop) raining; I want to go for a run.
2
I wish I (be) taller than my brother.
3
I wish you (not / leave) your clothes on the floor every day.
4
I wish I (study) medicine instead of law.
5
I wish they (stop) making that loud noise next door!
6
I wish I (not / forget) my umbrella at home today.
7
I wish you (tell) me the truth yesterday.
8
I wish my boss (give) me a raise next month.
9
I wish I (have) more free time during the week.
10
I wish you (not / smoke) in the house; it smells terrible.
11
I wish I (go) to that concert last night.
12
I wish the bus (arrive) on time for once!
13
I wish I (not / eat) so much pizza an hour ago.
14
I wish I (know) the answer to this question right now.
15
I wish you (be) more polite to the waiter.
🔄

Exercise 3 — Transformation

Rewrite using I wish… / If only… · 15 points

EN: Rewrite each sentence using I wish… or If only… as indicated. Keep the meaning the same.
PL: Przepisz zdanie używając I wish… lub If only… zgodnie ze wskazówką. Zachowaj to samo znaczenie.
1
I don’t have a fast internet connection.
I wish…
2
You are always biting your nails!
I wish…
3
I didn’t go to university.
If only…
4
It’s a pity I’m not on a beach right now.
I wish…
5
My sister never calls me.
I wish…
6
I spent all my money on clothes yesterday.
If only…
7
I can’t swim.
I wish…
8
He is so rude to everyone.
I wish…
9
I didn’t see the warning sign.
If only…
10
We live in a very noisy city.
I wish…
11
You didn’t invite me to the party.
I wish…
12
I have to wake up at 5 AM tomorrow.
If only…
13
She forgot to bring the keys.
I wish…
14
It’s a shame you don’t like sushi.
I wish…
15
My car is broken.
If only…
🌐

Exercise 4 — Polish to English Translation

Translate using I wish / If only structures · 15 points

EN: Translate each sentence into English using the correct wish structure. Write the complete sentence.
PL: Przetłumacz każde zdanie na angielski używając właściwej struktury wish. Napisz pełne zdanie.
1
Chciałbym, żeby jutro była ładna pogoda.
2
Żałuję, że nie kupiłem biletów wcześniej.
3
Gdybym tylko znał odpowiedź na to pytanie!
4
Chciałbym, żebyś przestał narzekać.
5
Szkoda, że nie mieszkamy nad morzem.
6
Żałuję, że nie powiedziałem jej, co czuję.
7
Chciałbym, żeby on do mnie zadzwonił.
8
Gdybym tylko nie zgubił mojego portfela wczoraj.
9
Szkoda, że nie potrafię gotować tak dobrze jak ty.
10
Chciałbym, żeby ta lekcja już się skończyła.
11
Żałuję, że nie wziąłem aparatu na wycieczkę.
12
Szkoda, że nie ma Cię tutaj ze mną.
13
Chciałbym, żeby moje dzieci sprzątały swój pokój.
14
Gdybym tylko miał więcej odwagi w tamtym momencie.
15
Szkoda, że ten film nie jest po angielsku.
💬

Speaking Practice

Use I wish / If only in conversation

😔 Regrets
  • What is something you wish you had done differently at school?
  • If only you could change one decision — what would it be?
  • Is there something you wish you had started learning earlier in life?
I wish I had…If only I hadn’t…
😤 Complaints
  • What does someone in your life do that you wish they wouldn’t?
  • Is there something about your city/country you wish were different?
  • What do you wish people would stop doing in public?
I wish you wouldn’t…If only they would…
🌍 Dream Life
  • Where do you wish you lived? Describe your dream city.
  • What ability do you wish you had? Why?
  • If only you could change one thing about your daily routine — what would it be?
I wish I lived…I wish I could…
📚 Learning & Work
  • Do you wish you had studied a different subject? Why?
  • What do you wish your boss/teacher would do differently?
  • If only school had taught you one more life skill — what would it be?
I wish I had studied…If only school had…
❤️ Relationships
  • Is there something you wish you had said to someone important in your life?
  • I wish my family would… — complete and discuss.
  • What do you wish you had known about relationships when you were younger?
I wish I had told…I wish they would…
🌐 The World
  • If only governments would… — what would you say?
  • What global problem do you wish had been solved by now?
  • I wish the world were… — how would you finish this sentence?
If only the world…I wish there were…
🏅

Your Results

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