English Vocabulary: Lesson 3-Talk About Your Wishes

Talk About Your Wishes

Wishes and goals are two different things; one is just a thought. The other is an action plan.

~Catherine Pulsifer, author

Today’s lesson is about expressing our wishes, wishes and more wishes…Oh, how I wish I could turn back the hands of time and still be on holiday…Well, I guess that this is wishful thinking. What do you think?

Let’s start with some definitions.

WISH (Verb) means:

  • To have a strong desire for something that is unlikely to happen. (E.g. Winning the lottery or getting a salary increase every year.)
  • To have a strong hope for something unattainable or not easy to get. (E.g. Eternal youth and beauty)
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Remember

You can say:

  • I wish I were …(This is more formal. Use this in an academic setting.)
  • I wish I was…(This is informal. Avoid this in an academic setting).
  • I wish I could go to Italy. (I wish I would..)
  • I wish he would stop bothering me.
  • I wish I had more money in my bank account.

How to Talk About Your Wishes

At School

  • I wish my handwriting were/was better.
  • I wish homework were/was abolished.
  • I wish I were/was more hardworking.
  • I wish my Mathematics’ teacher would stop punishing me all the time.
  • I wish all my classmates were more understanding.
  • I wish all my classes were interesting.
  • I wish he wouldn’t make so much noise in class.

At Work

  • I wish I were/was paid more.
  • I wish my boss were/was more understanding.
  • I wish my workplace weren’t/wasn’t far from where I currently stay.
  • I wish I could get a salary increase.
  • I wish I weren’t/wasn’t a workaholic.
  • I wish I were on holiday.
  • I wish I could change my job within a year.

At Home

  • I wish my husband were/was here with me.
  • I wish the children would be more autonomous.
  • I wish my wife were/was more understanding.
  • I wish my parents weren’t so strict.
  • I wish I ate better food.
  • I wish the kids watched less TV.
  • I wish that someone could clean my house every day.
  • I wish I had my own bedroom.
  • I wish I could win the lottery!

YOUR TURN: What about you? What do you wish for?

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