Dec 12th

A. I wish, I wish I was a fish....

Wishes about the present and future

1. We use wish + past simple to express that we want a situation in the present (or future) to be different.
   • I wish I spoke Italian. (I don't speak Italian.)
   • I wish I had a big car. (I don't have a big car.)
   • I wish I was on a beach. (I'm in the office.)
     Future: I wish it was the weekend tomorrow. (It's only Thursday tomorrow.)
2. We use wish + past continuous to express that we want to be doing a different action in the present (or future).
   • I wish I was lying on a beach now. (I'm sitting in the office.)
   • I wish it wasn't raining. (It is raining.)
   • I wish you weren't leaving tomorrow. (You are leaving tomorrow.)

Wishes about the past

1. We use wish + past perfect to express a regret, or that we want a situation in the past to be different.
   • I wish I hadn't eaten so much. (I ate a lot.)
   • I wish they'd come on holiday with us. (They didn't come on holiday with us.)
   • I wish I had studied harder at school. (I was lazy at school.)

Wish + would

1. We use wish + would + bare infinitive to express impatience, annoyance or dissatisfaction with a present action.
   • I wish you would stop smoking. (You are smoking at the moment and it is annoying me.)
   • I wish it would stop raining. (I'm impatient because it is raining and I want to go outside.)
   • I wish she'd be quiet. (I am annoyed because she is speaking.)

Wish and hope

1. To simply express that you want something to happen in the future (not talking about wanting an action or situation to be different, and not talking about impatience or annoyance) we use hope, not wish.
   • I hope it's sunny tomorrow.
     NOT I wish it was sunny tomorrow.
   • I hope she passes her exam next week.
     NOT I wish she were passing her exam next week.
   • I hope the plane doesn't crash tomorrow.
     NOT I wish the plane wouldn't crash tomorrow.

Wish and want

1. We can use wish + infinitive or wish + object + infinitive to mean want in a formal situation.
   • I wish to leave now. (+ infinitive)
   • I wish to speak to your supervisor please. (+ infinitive)
   • I do not wish my name to appear on the list. (+ object + infinitive)

Wish in fixed expressions

1. We can use I/We wish you in fixed expressions.
   • I wish you a happy birthday.
   • We wish you good luck in your new job.

B. Used To

[used to + VERB]

Example:

• I used to go to the beach every day.

It is better not to use "used to" in questions or negative forms; however, this is sometimes done in informal spoken English. It is better to ask questions and create negative sentences using Simple Past.

USE 1 Habit in the Past

"Used to" expresses the idea that something was an old habit that stopped in the past. It indicates that something was often repeated in the past, but it is not usually done now.

Examples:

• Jerry used to study English.
• Sam and Mary used to go to Mexico in the summer.
• I used to start work at 9 o'clock.
• Christine used to eat meat, but now she is a vegetarian.

USE 2 Past Facts and Generalizations

"Used to" can also be used to talk about past facts or generalizations which are no longer true.

Examples:

• I used to live in Paris.
• Sarah used to be fat, but now she is thin.
• George used to be the best student in class, but now Lena is the best.
• Oranges used to cost very little in Florida, but now they are quite expensive.

• Name 3 activities that you used to do when you were a kid

• Name 3 things that you used to do when you were studying at the university

• Name 3 activities that you used to do as an adult when you had more time