Wish & If Only: Would Transformation
B2 Level
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An important rule is that you generally cannot use "wish + would" about yourself, because you control your own actions. "I wish I would exercise more" is not natural — instead, say "I wish I exercised more" (past simple). However, you can use "wish + would" with "it" for weather and uncontrollable events: "I wish it would warm up." The negative form is equally useful: "I wish she wouldn't leave her clothes on the floor" expresses a repeated complaint. This structure often appears in Cambridge B2 speaking tasks when candidates describe things that annoy them about other people or daily life.
Quick Rule
wish / if only + subject + would (not) + base verb (complaints about behaviour)
- 1.I wish you would turn the music down. (complaint about someone's behaviour)
- 2.She wishes her brother wouldn't borrow her things without asking. (repeated annoyance)
- 3.If only it would stop snowing — we can't go anywhere. (uncontrollable situation)
- 4.We wish the council would fix the potholes in our street. (complaint about authority)
- 5.He doesn't wish they would leave — he enjoys the company. (negative wish — no complaint)
All 20 questions
Complete the sentence so it has the same meaning as the original. Use 'wish' or 'if only' with would/wouldn't to express complaints or desires for change.
My neighbour plays loud music every night.
I wish my neighbour
He never listens to my advice.
I wish he
It keeps raining.
I wish it
She always interrupts me when I'm speaking.
I wish she
My brother never helps with the housework.
I wish my brother
The children are always making noise.
If only the children
He never calls me back.
I wish he
The traffic is always so bad in the morning.
I wish the traffic
She keeps borrowing my things without asking.
I wish she
My boss never praises our work.
We wish our boss
He's always late for meetings.
I wish he
The dog keeps barking at night.
If only the dog
My parents never stop worrying about me.
I wish my parents
He never takes responsibility for his mistakes.
I wish he
She's constantly checking her phone during dinner.
If only she
The weather never gets warmer here.
I wish the weather
They always leave the lights on when they leave.
I wish they
My colleague never responds to my emails.
I wish my colleague
He keeps criticizing everything I do.
I wish he
The bus never arrives on time.
If only the bus
Continue Practising
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