General English Level 6 V 3
UNIT 05 Business matters TOPIC 04 Beating the rising cost of living
LANGUAGE FOCUS 04 Expressing regret and anxiety
In this activity we will look at expressing regret and anxiety.

1. Expressing regret

Zahra says:
Zahra:
Well, you should try it. I did it about two years ago and now I manage to save a few dollars each pay. It really helps. I wish I had done it sooner.

Zahra talks about something that she didn't do in the past. She is now sorry that she didn't do it. She says, "I wish I had done it sooner. " She regrets her past actions. She uses the third conditional structure, because she talks about an imaginary event - something that did not happen.

Find out more about the third conditional.

Alex says:
Alex:
Sometimes I really regret not going to uni. I could have got a much better job if I had.

Alex talks about something he didn't do in the past, which he now is sorry about. He expresses regret : "Sometimes I really regret not going to uni."

Zahra says:
Zahra:
I really wish I had accepted t hat job I was offered at KPY last year. I would have been in a more secure position now if I had . But as my mother always said, there's no point crying over spilt milk.

Again Zahra expresses regret about something she didn't do in the past . Again she use the third conditional, " I would have been in a more secure position now if I had ."

We can use the following structures when we want to express regret for something we have or haven't done.

I regret wast ing time when I was younger.
that I wast ed time
not go ing to uni.
I should have gone
never have wast ed time when I was younger.
I wish I had gone to uni.
I hadn't wast ed time when I was younger.
If only

Examples

1 Read the sentences.
2 Listen to the sentences.
3 Practise saying the sentences. Use the Pause button.
I regret not study ing more for the test. I just found out that I failed it.
I regret go ing out last night. I should have stay ed home and studi ed .
I wish I had known that there was a test today. I would have studied if I'd known.
If only I had rung you last night. You would have told me about the test.
I should never have come to school today. I feel terrible. I should have stayed home.

2. Expressing anxiety

Alex says:
Alex:
To be honest, I'm a bit anxious about all the changes happening here. I'm really worried about los ing my job. It would be good to have more choices.

Alex talks about the changes that are happening in his workplace. He does not feel positive about these changes. He says, " I'm a bit anxious about all the changes happening here. I'm really worried about los ing my job."

Zahra says:
Zahra:
I am quite concerned , too. Even if the company moves, there's no guarantee that they won't sack some of the staff.

Zahra feels the same way as Alex about the changes in their workplace and the effect they might have. She says, "I am quite concerned , too."

We can use the following structures when we want to express anxiety about something which might be negative for us.

I am anxious about
worried about
concerned about 		fail ing the course.
worried that I will fail the course.
concerned about my job.

Examples

1 Read the sentences.
2 Listen to the sentences.
3 Practise saying the sentences. Use the Pause button.
They're really worried about mov ing to Tokyo. They don't know anyone there.
I'm quite anxious about do ing this essay. I don't understand the question.
He's concerned about Mary. He says she looks really sick.
Tokyo is an expensive city. I'm worried that I won't have enough money when I get there.
She's really worried about be ing ready on time. She has a lot to do before we leave.



Zahra says, " Even if the company moves, there's no guarantee that they won't sack some of the staff." Here she is talking about the possibility of the company moving and how that will affect her job security.
We use even if … , to say that something which might happen will not affect the truth of something else. Even if is a conditional clause .

Examples

We 'll go to the beach tomorrow, even if it rains.
I 'll finish this tonight, even if I have to stay up all night.
Even if she says no, he' ll still do it.

Find out more about the first conditional.

Now go to 05 PRACTICE I wish I had done it sooner.