Expressing regret: I wish you wouldn't vs I wish you hadn't

Summary

This ESL lesson plan helps B1-level English students learn how to express regret and annoyance. The lesson focuses on the key grammatical structures "I wish I hadn't" for past regrets and "I wish you wouldn't" for present frustrations. Through a series of engaging activities, students will improve their ability to communicate their feelings in common social situations.

This lesson includes a warm-up discussion, a listening comprehension exercise with a fill-in-the-blanks task, and a vocabulary matching activity. Students will listen to a short audio clip, read a blog post explaining the grammar, and practice key vocabulary related to feelings and making amends. The material is designed to build confidence in using these important expressions for everyday communication.

Activities

• A warm-up discussion where students talk about past mistakes and annoying habits to introduce the lesson's theme.
• Listening comprehension: Students fill in the blanks while listening to an audio clip about someone expressing regrets and frustrations.
• Grammar practice: An integrated activity combining listening and reading to help students understand the use of "I wish I hadn't" and "I wish you wouldn't" in context.
• Vocabulary building: A drag-and-drop exercise to match key terms like "regret," "annoying," and "make amends" with their definitions.

Expressing regret and annoyance

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Vocabulary focus

The vocabulary section introduces essential words for discussing feelings and social situations. Key terms include regret, annoying, upset, frustrated, and consequences. Students will also learn useful phrasal verbs and expressions like let down and make amends to talk about correcting mistakes.

Grammar focus

This lesson focuses on two distinct uses of the verb "wish." Students will learn to use "I wish + past perfect" (e.g., "I wish I hadn't done that") to express regret about past actions. They will also practice using "I wish + would + infinitive" (e.g., "I wish you wouldn't do that") to express annoyance or a desire for someone to change their current behavior.