Задание

1. Read the instructions and do the task

Read the sentences and answer the questions:

Which of the verbs in bold describe real actions?

Which of the verbs in bold describe unreal actions?

Do the sentences describing unreal situations refer to the past, present or future? Why?

If only there were more places on Earth untouched by human activity.

Mark wished his colleagues had shared the information they had collected before the beginning of the conference. He didn't know what to answer due to the lack of the necessary data.

A few decades ago the fish population in this river recovered when the factory stopped dumping toxic waste into it.

I wish my sister would tell me what she is not satisfied with instead of taking offence and keeping silent.

Kelly took offence at my words. We haven't spoken for several days, and I still don't know what caused our conflict.

As soon as people started recycling rubbish, the number of rubbish dumps has decreased.

I wish there were fewer landfills on the planet. We must stop littering the Earth.

Rule: wish and if only

1) We use Past Simple or Past Continuous after wish and if only to express general wishes or wishes about the present or future.

The professor wishes he was taking part in the conference on global warming instead of giving a lecture at the university.

2) We use Past Perfect or Past Perfect Continuous after wish and if only to express wishes about the past.

If only I had found out about this yesterday. I wouldn't make such a grave mistake.

3) We use would and the first form of the verb after wish and if only to express criticism or disappointment with the situation in the present or future.

I wish the audience would listen more attentively to the speakers.

2. Choose the correct options

1. If only Mr. Brown had warned us before he spoke to the others.

Function:

expressing criticism

expressing a wish about the past