TESOL/Reflecting on the past

Key sentences

Regretting or being thankful	Explaining why
I wish I had (past participle) when I was younger.	I would (verb) by now.

Regretting or being thankful	Explaining why
I'm really glad I (verb). It's a good thing I (verb).	If I hadn't, I wouldn't have (past participle).

Drills

Say these sentences without looking.

I wish I had (past participle) when I was younger.

past participle	sentence
studied English	I wish I had studied English when I was younger.
learned to play the piano	I wish I had learned to play the piano when I was younger.
saved more money	I wish I had saved more money when I was younger.
started a business	I wish I had started a business when I was younger.

I would (verb) by now.

verb	sentence
be fluent	I would be fluent by now.
have mastered the piano	I would have mastered the piano by now.
be rich	I would be rich by now.
own my own business	I would own my own business by now.

I'm really glad I (verb).

verb	sentence
went to college	I'm really glad I went to college.
joined my company	I'm really glad I joined my company.
kept playing the piano	I'm really glad I kept playing the piano.
kept exercising	I'm really glad I kept exercising.

If I hadn't, I wouldn't have (past participle).

past participle	sentence
gotten a degree	If I hadn't, I wouldn't have gotten a degree.
met my husband / wife	If I hadn't, I wouldn't have met my husband / wife.
become a great piano player	If I hadn't, I wouldn't have become a great piano player.
stayed in shape	If I hadn't, I wouldn't have stayed in shape.

Example

Practice this conversation.

Regretting or being thankful	Explaining why
I wish I had (studied English) when I was younger.	I would (be fluent) by now.

Regretting or being thankful	Explaining why
I'm really glad I (went to college).	If I hadn't, I wouldn't have (gotten a degree).

Change partners. Use your imagination and change the sentences.

Exercise

Use your imagination. Make your own conversation.

Regretting or being thankful	Explaining why
I wish I had ... when I was younger.	I would ... by now.

Regretting or being thankful	Explaining why
I'm really glad I ....	If I hadn't, I wouldn't have ....

Change partners. Use your imagination and make another conversation.

Practice

Regretting or being thankful	Explaining why
Talk about what you are glad about or regret.	Explain why.

Further study

• English lesson topics

Resource type: this resource is a lesson in English as a second language.

quiz

This is about learning English.

1 I wish I had ________ when I was younger.

	studied English
	learned to play the piano
	saved more money
	started a business

2 I would ________ by now.

	be fluent
	have mastered the piano
	be rich
	own my own business

3 I'm really glad I ________.

	went to college
	joined my company
	kept playing the piano
	kept exercising

4 If I hadn't, I wouldn't have ________.

	gotten a degree
	met my husband / wife
	become a great piano player
	stayed in shape