Regrets

English course · B2 · Upper intermediate · 6 short videos

Goal — I can talk about past regrets and imagine a different past.

Grammar — third conditional (If I had…, I would have…), should have / shouldn't have, I wish I had…

Words — miss the last train, catch, check the time, scoops, taxi, wish, study, test, practice, hindsight

The videos of this unit

Midnight. No more trains.

Mia We missed the last train!

Leo If you hadn't stopped for ice cream, we would have caught it.

Mia If you had checked the time, I wouldn't have stopped.

Leo OK, I should have checked.

Mia And I shouldn't have ordered three scoops.

Leo So… taxi?

Useful expression I should have checked. — Use “should have” to talk about a past mistake.

Ben is full of regrets.

Ben I wish I had studied for the test.

Ben If I had studied, I would have passed.

Leo Ben… the test is tomorrow. You can still study.

Ben …Oh.

It's easy to be smart… later.

Word in hindsight /ɪn ˈhaɪndsaɪt/ — Looking back at the past, with what you know now.

Stop saying “If I would have known”.

Common mistake ~~If I would have known, I would have come.~~ → If I had known, I would have come.

Why: After “if”, use “had + past participle”. “Would have” goes only in the other part.

Past regret or present advice?

Word should've gone /ˈʃʊdəv ɡɒn/ / should go /ʃʊd ɡəʊ/

Astuce (should've gone) : “should have” is said fast: “shoulda” or “should've”.
Astuce (should go) : Listen for the little “uh” and the past participle (gone, not go).

Regrets quiz: 4 questions!