Casa ESL · B2 Upper Intermediate · Unit 2 of 20 · Step 1
Wish / If Only + Past Perfect
Name
Date
Vocabulary
dilemma
nounA situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives.
"The doctor faced an ethical dilemma when treating the patient."
conscience
nounAn inner sense of what is right and wrong that governs behaviour.
"His conscience would not allow him to remain silent."
accountability
nounThe obligation to accept responsibility for one's actions.
"Corporate accountability has become a central issue in public discourse."
whistleblower
nounA person who exposes illegal or unethical activity within an organisation.
"The whistleblower revealed widespread fraud in the company."
impartial
adjectiveTreating all people and sides equally; not biased.
"A judge must remain impartial throughout the trial."
compromise
verbTo settle a dispute by mutual concession, or to weaken or undermine something.
"She refused to compromise her principles for financial gain."
morality
nounPrinciples concerning the distinction between right and wrong behaviour.
"Questions of morality often have no simple answers."
repercussion
nounAn unintended consequence of an action, especially an unwelcome one.
"The scandal had serious repercussions for the entire industry."
Grammar Focus
Wish / If only + past perfect
Use 'wish + past perfect' or 'if only + past perfect' to express regret about something that happened (or didn't happen) in the past. The past perfect shows the action is finished and cannot be changed. Compare: 'I wish I spoke French' (present regret — I don't speak French now) vs 'I wish I had spoken up' (past regret — I didn't speak up and I regret it).
I wish I had told the truth from the beginning.
If only the company had acted sooner, the damage could have been avoided.
She wishes she hadn't signed the agreement without reading it carefully.
If only they had listened to the warnings, the crisis wouldn't have escalated.
Exercises
Exercise 1
Complete each sentence using wish or if only with the past perfect.
1. I (wish / not ignore) the warning signs earlier.
2. If only the board (act) on the complaint when it was first raised.
3. She (wish / speak) up during the meeting, but she stayed silent.
4. If only we (consider) the ethical implications before launching the product.
5. He (wish / not trust) his colleague with confidential information.
Exercise 2
Match the beginning of each sentence with its correct ending.
Reading
The Price of Silence
In 2015, a mid-level engineer at a manufacturing firm discovered that the company was dumping toxic waste into a nearby river. She faced an agonising dilemma: if she reported the violation, she risked losing her job and being blacklisted in the industry. If she remained silent, the contamination would continue to harm the local community. After weeks of deliberation, she chose to contact an environmental agency anonymously. The investigation that followed led to heavy fines and a complete overhaul of the company's waste management practices. Looking back, the engineer says she wishes she had acted sooner. 'If only I hadn't hesitated for so long, the river wouldn't have suffered as much damage,' she reflected. Her case reignited a national debate about whistleblower protections and corporate accountability. Many argued that individuals should never have to choose between their livelihood and their conscience.
1. Why did the engineer hesitate before reporting the violation?
2. What does the engineer regret, and how does she express this?
Speaking
Discuss these questions with a partner or your teacher.
Writing
Write 5–8 sentences describing a decision — real or hypothetical — that someone might regret. Use at least three examples of wish/if only + past perfect.
Example: A friend of mine turned down a scholarship to study abroad because she was afraid of leaving home. She wishes she had been braver and accepted the opportunity. If only she had spoken to people who had studied overseas, she might have felt less anxious. Now she regrets the decision deeply. She wishes she hadn't let fear make such an important choice for her.
Answer Key — For Teacher Use
Exercise 1
1. wish I hadn't ignored · 2. had acted · 3. wishes she had spoken · 4. had considered · 5. wishes he hadn't trusted
Exercise 2
1. I wish I had reported the fraud → before it affected so many people. · 2. If only the government had regulated the industry → the environmental damage could have been prevented. · 3. She wishes she had consulted a lawyer → before signing the contract. · 4. If only he had been honest → he wouldn't have lost everyone's trust. · 5. They wish they had invested in safety measures → instead of cutting costs.
Reading Comprehension
1. She hesitated because she risked losing her job and being blacklisted in the industry if she reported the violation. · 2. She regrets not acting sooner. She says, 'If only I hadn't hesitated for so long, the river wouldn't have suffered as much damage.'