Grammar: ✨ Grammar Essentials: 🧩 Parts of Speech & 🏗️ Sentence Structure (Advanced) (B2) - Lesson 8: Wishes & Regrets about the Past (I wish/If only + Past Perfect)

ESL Cambodia 🇰🇭

Wishes & Regrets

About the Past (ការស្តាយក្រោយ)

↩️

The Past
(Action Done)

Now
(The Feeling)

We look back at the past and want to change it.

I wish + Subject + had (not) + V3 Using Past Perfect to talk about the Past.

"If only..." = Stronger Wish!

Transformations

Reality: I didn't study for the exam.

I wish I had studied.

ខ្ញុំ ước អោយខ្ញុំបានរៀន (តែការពិតមិនបានរៀន)

Reality: I ate too much spicy food.

If only I hadn't eaten it.

ប្រសិនបើខ្ញុំមិនបានញ៉ាំវា (តែការពិតញ៉ាំរួចហើយ)

Reality: I forgot my umbrella.

I wish I had brought it.

ខ្ញុំ ước អោយខ្ញុំបានយកវាមក

A Bad Trip 🌧️

Dara and Piseth talk about the weekend.

Dara 🧑

How was your trip to Sihanoukville?

Piseth 👨

Terrible! It rained all day. I wish we hadn't gone.

Dara 🧑

Oh no. Did you stay in a hotel?

Piseth 👨

No, we camped. If only I had checked the weather first!

⚠️ Watch Out:

Don't confuse with Present Wishes!
❌ I wish I study. (Wrong)
✅ I wish I studied. (Present Wish)
✅ I wish I had studied. (Past Regret)

Regret Check 🧠

Select the correct form.

Reality: I was late for work.

I wish I ___ earlier.

Reality: I bought a bad phone.

If only I ___ it.

Reality: She didn't see the doctor.

She wishes she ___ the doctor.

Mission 📝

Fix the past!

Rewrite the regrets:

Change these "Realities" into wishes using had or hadn't.

• 1. I lost my key.
  ➔ I wish I hadn't lost my key.
• 2. I didn't learn English earlier.
  ➔ I wish I ______________________.
• 3. I spent all my money.
  ➔ If only I ______________________.