Conditional 2

The Three Wishes

Long ago, there lived a couple who lived on a dairy farm. They were poor and spent much of their time wishing for things they didn't have.

Often the man would say, "I wish I were more handsome" or "I wish I had more cows."

Frequently, the woman would say, "I wish I were wealthy" or "I wish I were a beautiful princess."

One day, some magic fairies heard their wishes and decided to conduct an experiment. They went to the couple and gave them three wishes. The fairies would give the husband and wife whatever they wished for.

The couple talked a long time about what they should wish for. But after a while they became hungry, and from force of habit, the woman suddenly said, "I wish I had some sausages to eat." Immediately her market basket was full of sausages.

Then the couple began to argue because the husband said that his wife had wasted one of their valuable wishes on such a cheap thing as sausages. The argument grew hotter, and finally in anger the wife said, "I wish the sausages were hanging from your nose!" Of course, the sausages immediately flew to the poor man's nose and could not be removed.

Now, there was only one thing the poor woman could do. She really loved her husband, so she had to spend her third wish in removing the sausages from his nose. Thus, except for a few sausages, they had nothing to show for their three wishes.

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A. 1. If you had one wish, what would it be?
2. I wish I lived in a house. I wish I could afford to buy a house. I live in an apartment now.
3. I wish the bus would come. I've been waiting for an hour.
4. I wish I could help you. I'm sorry but I don't have the time.
5. I wish they were going to come to the party next Saturday. It would be such fun.
6. I wish I weren't so afraid of speaking in public. It would make my life much easier.
7. I wish you wouldn't do that.

B. 1. If only the bus would come. Then I would be happy.
2. If only it were that easy. We have a big problem now that is going to be difficult to solve.
3. If only we had a backyard for the dogs. We live in an apartment now.
4. If only my boss/my mother would ....