breakthrough plus level 4 - Unit 9 Past regrets

Oct 1, 2026

Unit 9 “Past regrets” focuses on wishes, regrets, and advice using past forms such as past perfect with if only and I wish. Learners review and practice grammar for sympathy strategies, including matching regrets with responses and selecting expressions. Vocabulary activities reinforce correct usage of “to be” forms in context. The unit also includes conversation practice, listening comprehension about regrets, speaking prompts, and a reading skill on identifying reference.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Warm-up

Conversation

Vocabulary

Exchange

Strategy: Showing sympathy

Language in action

Listening

Speaking

Reading

9 Past regrets Focus Grammar Vocabulary Strategy wishes and regrets If only / I wish + past perfect should have expressions with to be word formation (2) showing sympathy 1 Warm-up a Discuss the pictures with your partner. What can you see? How do these people feel? b When was the last time you went to a party? Have you ever met anyone special at a party? 2 Conversation a 2.17 Listen and read. Jung: Hi Andrew. I’m back! Wow. You’ll never believe what an amazing day I’ve had. You should have come with us. Andrew: I know. I wish I hadn’t had to visit my uncle. All we did was watch TV. Anyway, how was the balloon festival? Jung: Great. Everyone was there – except you, of course. We had a You should have come with us. If only I’d been there. I wish you hadn’t told me. Grammar reference, p.110 barbecue And then Andrew: I have no and watched all the balloons taking off. They were huge! just as we were about to leave, guess what happened? idea. It started raining? Challenge! Jung: No. The weather was perfect. Actually, this guy came over and asked if we wanted a ride in his balloon! Andrew: Really? Wow. That’s amazing. But it’s expensive, isn’t it? Jung: No, it was free! He said the people he was waiting for had canceled, so he took us for a ride instead! Andrew: No way! I don’t believe you. You’re making this up. Jung: No, I’m not. I took some photos on my cell phone … See? Andrew: Woah! That’s incredible. I wish you hadn’t told me. Jung: Yeah. You missed out big time. Andrew: If only I’d been there. b Practice the conversation with a partner. 56 9 Past regrets 3 Vocabulary a Complete each sentence using the correct form of an expression with to be. be down to be into be out of be up to 1 I haven’t seen you in a long time. What have you ? 2 If only I’d known Mary tennis, I’d have bought her a tennis racket. 3 We milk. I’ll have to buy some more. 4 We’ve almost run out of money. We our last few dollars. b Circle the expressions with to be in these sentences. Match each expression with a meaning. 1 What’s up with you? Why are you in such a bad mood? a in favor of 2 I’m all for recycling. It’s very important. b take (medication) 3 I don’t think Tim’s up yet. He’s not answering his phone. c out of bed 4 Peter is on pills for his allergy, you know. d What’s the matter? 4 Exchange a Before you listen, complete the conversation using a verb in the correct form. Work with a partner. A: I wish she 1 me that she loved me before I took the job in Spain. B: I know. She 2 something. A: If only I 3 , I wouldn’t have accepted the job. I 4 here. B: I suppose you 5 her to marry you. That’s what she was waiting for. A: Yeah. You’re right. It’s my fault. B: Never mind. You can’t change the past. b 2.19 Listen and check. Then practice the conversation with your partner. Strategy: Showing sympathy a Match each regret with a response. 1 If only I hadn’t forgotten her phone number. 2 I wish I’d married her when I had the chance. 3 If only he’d told me he was sick. a Never mind. Don’t blame yourself. It was his decision not to say anything. b Try not to let it get you down. I’m sure you’ll remember it soon. c It won’t do any good to keep thinking about it. She’s married to someone else now. b 2.20 Listen and check. Then practice the conversations with a partner. c Underline the expressions you can use to show sympathy. Grammar activities, p.110 2.21 Pronunciation, p.115 9 Past regrets 57 9 Past regrets 5 Language in action a With a partner, look at the pictures (A–E) and talk about the mistakes Tom has made in his life. What does he wish he had/hadn’t done? What should/shouldn’t he have done? He wishes he had(n’t)… He should(n’t) have … B If only he had(n’t) If he had(n’t)…, he would(n’t) have … A D C E b Tell your partner about … • something you regret doing when

FAQs

How is past regret expressed in this unit?

The unit uses structures like “I wish + past perfect” and “If only + past perfect should have …” to talk about regrets and imagined past outcomes.

What grammar focus is covered in the Vocabulary section?

Learners complete and circle sentences using the correct form of “to be” in expressions such as “be down to,” “be into,” “be out of,” and “be up to.”

How do learners show sympathy for someone’s regrets?

They match regrets with response lines and underline sympathy expressions, such as “Never mind. Don’t blame yourself” and “Try not to let it get you down.”

Oct 1, 2026

Uploaded by EvelynWrites