Here are the solutions to the exercises:
15 Rewrite the sentences expressing a wish.
- Jenny doesn't want her sister borrowing her accessories all the time.
Jenny wishes her sister wouldn't borrow her accessories all the time.
- Nigel regrets not attending Royal Ascot.
Nigel wishes he had attended Royal Ascot.
- It's a shame that people don't always get along together.
If only people always got along together.
- They don't know their way back to the hotel.
They wish they knew their way back to the hotel.
- He would like to go to the cinema tonight but he can't.
He wishes he could go to the cinema tonight.
- Cynthia didn't have enough time to make dinner.
If only Cynthia had had enough time to make dinner.
16 Read the speech bubbles and make sentences, as in the example.
- I can't play tennis. I don't have a racquet.
I wish I had a racquet.
If I had a racquet, I would play tennis.
- I didn't go to the Chocolate Fashion Show. I forgot to book tickets.
If only I had remembered to book tickets.
If I had remembered to book tickets, I would have gone to the Chocolate Fashion Show.
- I forgot to invite my colleague to my party. Now she's upset with me.
I wish I had invited my colleague to my party.
If I had invited my colleague to my party, she wouldn't be upset with me.
- My leg is broken. I didn't go skating with my friends.
If only my leg wasn't broken.
If my leg wasn't broken, I would go skating with my friends.
- I can't afford to buy these earrings. They cost too much.
I wish I could afford to buy these earrings.
If I could afford to buy these earrings, I would buy them.
17 Fill in the gaps with would rather, prefer, or would prefer.
- Jordan would rather Drake didn't tell anyone about the surprise party.
- We would prefer enjoying the sights to lying on the beach when on holiday.
- I would prefer to spend a little extra for the tickets if it means getting better seats.
- They would rather stay home rather than go to the dance.
- Patrick prefers steamed vegetables to boiled ones.
18 Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense.
- A: I always use black and white film for my photos. What about you?
B: I prefer shooting photos in colour as the images are more vivid.
- A: Did David admit to breaking your camera?
B: No, in fact he acted as if he had never borrowed it from me!
- A: Are you going to the company dance on Saturday?
B: I don't think so. I'd prefer to attend the charity benefit that's held on the same night.
- A: I think you should forgive Ben for shouting at you.
B: Suppose he started shouting at you, how would you feel?
- A: Isn't this ball gown amazing?
B: It is, but I'd rather not wear something so extravagant.
- A: What time is it?
B: Almost midnight. It's about time we headed home.
- A: We're going on a skiing trip next week.
B: You'd better pack some warm clothes.
- A: How do you like your new flat?
B: It's nice, but I still wish I lived in a nice country house, though!
- A: Do you watch the news every night?
B: Actually, I prefer listening to the news on the radio rather than watch it on TV.