Learning English--Using wish to talk about the past

Using wish to talk about the past

 (If you want to see how to use wish in the present tense, click here)This form is used when right now you are thinking about or wishing that something in the past happened differently. You think about something that cannot be changed, almost like a dream or a regret.
use wish (that) + subject + had (not) + past participle
Examples:

I wish I had gone to Australia last year. (Now you regret you didn't go to Australia last year.)
James wishes he had studied harder. (Now you wish you studied more before.)
The students wish their teacher hadn't given them homework. (Now the students feel bad that their teacher gave homework before.)
Alice wishes she hadn't eaten so much pie. (Now Alice feels sick. She wonders why she ate so much pie before.)

Check Your Understanding

Write a sentence using wish in the past. Two examples are given to you.Examples: Henry didn't do his work. Now his boss is angry. Answer: Henry wishes he had done his work. Melanie swam in the lake. Now she is cold. Answer: Melanie wishes she hadn't swum in the lake. 1. Jeff didn't wake up on time. Now he is late.           Answer         Jeff wishes he had waken up on time.          2. Tony and Chris went camping. Now it is raining.          Answer         Tony and Chris wish they hadn't gone camping.          3. Martha didn't eat dinner. Now she is hungry.          Answer         Martha wishes she had eaten dinner.          4. I lied to my friend. Now my friend won't talk to me.          Answer         I wish I hadn't lied to my friend.          5. We didn't finish cleaning the house. Now all of our guests have arrived and we are embarrassed.          Answer         We wish we had finished cleaning the house.