English Didactics Course 1

Hania Bociek

FS 2010
Susanne Lang

Song L esson Plan: Introduction of I wish/If only ZLWK7KH5HDVRQE\

Hoobastank

M ain A im
To enable students to express regrets or wishes about the present or past by using I wish and If
only with the past simple or past perfect. At the end of the lesson students should be able to
change statements about the present and the past into wishes like the following:
- ,FDQWVLQJ I wish/If only I could sing.
- I was not at the wedding. I wish/If only I had been at the wedding.
Students, Assumptions, T imetable F it
This lesson is suitable for teenagers or adults on an intermediate level of English. They should
already be familiar with the present and past tenses (at least simple and perfect).
L esson Plan
Procedure

A im

T writes five sentences on blackboard or puts

them on the OHP (transparency on p.2). Tells
SS to read them through. What are they?
T asks SS to decide in pairs about the order of
the apologies, from weak to strong.
Discussing the result.

Focus class. Establish context

of apologies.

SS read the gab text of the song and try to fill

in the correct verbs (instruction and verbs are
on the sheet, p.3). S may compare their results
in pairs.
SS listen to the song and check if their answers
are right.
T confirmes the right answers and asks SS if
they can find other forms of apologies besides
the ones discussed in the beginning.
T explains the relevant grammar with example
sentences (transparency p.4).
SS in pairs do exercises on work sheet (p.5).

Individual first confrontation

with the text reading

Make them aware of different

forms of apologies

T checks results with whole class

Homework or if there is still time left:
- Additional worksheet (p.6)
1

Listening
Discovery of the expression
of regret ,ZLVK,GLGQWGR.
Explanation and accuracy.
Practice of structures.

T ime
Interaction

T-SS

S-S

T-SS-T

S(-S)
4
S

T-SS-T

14
S-S

T-SS

English Didactics Course 1

Hania Bociek

FS 2010
Susanne Lang

,PYHU\VRUU\
2. I do apologise.
3. Sorry about that.
,PVRUU\
5. I really am very sorry.

English Didactics Course 1

Hania Bociek

FS 2010
Susanne Lang

Look at the lyrics of the song and put the verbs listed below in appropriate blanks.
You will have to use some of these verbs a few times.

have meant must need used want wish

T he Reason (Hoobastank)
I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I ......... I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never ......... to do those things to you
And so I ......... to say before I go
That I just ......... you to know
I've found a reason for me
To change who I ......... to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you
I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I ......... live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
7KDWVZK\,......... you to hear
I've found a reason for me
To change who I ......... to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is You [x4]
I'm not a perfect person
I never ......... to do those things to you
And so I ......... to say before I go
That I just ......... you to know
I've found a reason for me
To change who I ......... to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you
I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you

English Didactics Course 1

Hania Bociek

FS 2010
Susanne Lang

7KHUHVPDQ\WKLQJV,ZLVK,GLGQWGR.

I wish / if only can be used to express regrets or

wishes.
When after these expressions we use past simple, we
talk about the present.
Examples:
,ZLVK,IRQO\,FRXOGIO\ ,FDQWIO\DQG,UHJUHWLW
I wish/If only I KDGDORWRIPRQH\ ,KDYHQWJRWDORW
of money and I regret it.

When after these expressions we use past perfect, we

talk about the past.
Examples:
,ZLVK,IRQO\,KDGQWVDLGWKDW ,VDLGWKDWLQWKHSDVW
and now I regret it.
,ZLVK,IRQO\KDGQWKXUW\RX ,KXUW\RXLQWKHSDVW
and now I regret it.

English Didactics Course 1

Hania Bociek

FS 2010
Susanne Lang

I wish / if only
I wish / if only can be used to express regrets or wishes.
When after these expressions we use past simple, we talk about the present.
Examples:
,ZLVK,IRQO\,FRXOGIO\ ,FDQWIO\DQG,UHJUHWLW
I wish/If only ,KDGDORWRIPRQH\ ,KDYHQWJRWDORWRIPRQH\DQG,UHJUHWLW

When after these expressions we use past perfect, we talk about the past.
Examples:
,ZLVK,IRQO\,KDGQWVDLGWKDW ,VDLGWKDWLQWKHSDVWDQGQRZ,UHJUHWLW
I wish/If only hadQWKXUW\RX ,KXUW\RXLQWKHSDVWDQGQRZ,UHJUHWLW
Express regrets about the situations presented below. Start sentences with I wish or If only
1. You have no job. _______________________________
2. You did not go to university. _____________________________________
3. You did not report the theft to the police. ________________________________________
4. Your sister visits you very rarely. __________________________________________
5. Your team lost the match. ____________________________________________
6. You went to bed late last night. _____________________________________
7. You smoke. _________________________________
8. You do sport very rarely. ____________________________________________
<RXFDQWsing. __________________________________________________
10. You spent all your money. ________________________________________
11. <RXFDQWFRQFHQWUDWHBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
12. You play the piano very badly. __________________________________________
13. You did not buy the Hoobastank.________________________________________
14. You did not lock the door. ____________________________________________
<RXGRQWNQRZWKHZD\WRWKHFLQHPDBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
5

English Didactics Course 1

Hania Bociek

FS 2010
Susanne Lang

A dditional exercises to I wish / if only

A dd a sentence with I wish or If only.

,FDQWVROYHP\SUREOHPV I wish I could solve my problems
1. Why am I so tired? _________________________________________________________
,FDQWVOHHSBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB_________________________________
3. ,KDYHQWJRWHQRXJKHQHUJ\BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB_____________
4. My studies arent going well.__________________________________________________
5. I havent got any friends. ____________________________________________________

Complete the sentences using: accepted, caught , found, kept , stayed and won .
I spent all the money. I wish now that I had saved it.
1. I missed the train. I wished___________________________________________________
2. Jerry left the party early. Fiona wished__________________________________________
3. Helene refused the offer. Her parents wish_______________________________________
4. Its a pity we sold the table. If only_____________________________________________
5. I looked everywhere for the key. I wish__________________________________________
6. The team lost narrowly. Their fans wish_________________________________________

Source: Eastwood, John. Oxford Practice Gra mmer. Sixth impression. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1994.