In 2021, an Australian palliative nurse called Bronnie Ware published the results of years listening to dying patients. She noticed the same regrets came up again and again. The top five were, in order: 'I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected.' 'I wish I hadn't worked so hard.' 'I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.' 'I wish I'd stayed in touch with my friends.' 'I wish I'd let myself be happier.' She noticed something surprising: none of her patients regretted taking risks or spending money on experiences. The regrets were almost always about the risks NOT taken and the connections NOT kept.
Unit 5 · Workbook
5B. No regrets — Workbook
Extra practice for home study · with answer keys
How to use this workbook
- Try each exercise on paper first — don't peek!
- Tap Show answer on a single item, or use the big button above to reveal everything.
- Re-do anything you got wrong the next day.
1. Vocabulary — -ed vs -ing feelings adjectives
Choose the correct form.
I'm so ___ with this puzzle. I've been trying for two hours.
That film was really ___ — I even cried at the end.
Sorry, I'm not ___ — my face just looks like this!
The results were ___ — we all expected higher marks.
I was so ___ when I found out my sister was moving to Japan.
His constant complaining is really ___ .
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2. Vocabulary — regret words in context
Complete each sentence with ONE word from the box.
Word bank — drag or tap, then tap a gap
- In drop , I should have accepted their job offer.
- The last conversation with my father still drop me, ten years later.
- Try not to drop yourself for a decision you made when you were young.
- She looked drop when she talked about her old flat.
- Saying goodbye to Rome was drop — sweet memories, painful to leave.
- I'm starting to have drop about buying such an expensive car.
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3. Vocabulary — discursive writing
Is the concept of a life with 'no regrets' a realistic goal, or is it a harmful myth that prevents us from learning from our mistakes?
Check your writing
- Use at least 4 regret-related vocabulary items
- Maintain a formal, discursive register
- Use cohesive devices to link your arguments
- Check for varied C1-level grammatical structures
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4. Grammar — wish + past simple / could / would
Choose the correct verb form.
I wish I ___ speak more languages.
I wish it ___ so cold. My hands are freezing.
I wish my flatmate ___ leaving dishes in the sink for days.
I wish I ___ more sleep. I'm exhausted.
I wish I ___ swim. Everyone else is going in the pool.
I wish people ___ interrupt me when I'm concentrating.
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5. Grammar — wish + past perfect (regrets)
Rewrite each sentence as a regret using 'I wish…'.
I didn't call her last night.
I spent too much money on holiday.
I didn't learn a musical instrument as a child.
We didn't buy that flat when it was cheap.
I told him about the surprise party.
I didn't say goodbye properly.
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6. Grammar — put the words in order
Rearrange the words to form a correct sentence.
wish / harder / I / had / studied / I
would / neighbours / my / wish / I / quieter / be
only / I / spoken / had / up / if / earlier
wish / could / travel / more / I
wasn't / wish / raining / it / I
hadn't / that / I / said / wish / I
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7. Grammar — spot and fix the mistake
Each sentence has ONE mistake. Rewrite it correctly.
I wish I have more money.
I wish I would play the guitar.
I wish I studied harder last term.
I wish it wouldn't be so noisy in here.
I wish my brother would being on time!
If only I didn't say that yesterday.
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8. Reading — true / false / not given
Read the short text and mark each statement T, F or NG.
- Bronnie Ware is a doctor.T / F / NG
- The top regret was about not working hard enough.T / F / NG
- One regret was about not expressing feelings.T / F / NG
- Ware surveyed more than a million people.T / F / NG
- Most regrets were about risks people DIDN'T take.T / F / NG
- Many patients regretted spending too much money on experiences.T / F / NG
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9. Writing — guided task
Write 80–100 words: 'A regret I'm ready to let go of.' Include at least 2 'wish + past perfect', 1 'wish + could', 1 'if only + would', and 2 -ed/-ing feeling adjectives.
Check your writing
- 80–100 words
- 2 'wish + past perfect' regrets
- 1 'wish + could' hope
- 1 'if only + would'
- 2 -ed / -ing feeling adjectives
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10. Listening — the interview with a regret expert
Listen to the interview. A journalist and a life-coach — two clearly different voices. Answer the questions. Play twice if you need.
🎧 Interview · a life-coach on regrets · ~1:30
📄 Show transcript
A: Good morning everyone, and welcome back to the show. Today we're joined by life-coach, Dr. Anya Sharma, who's going to talk to us about regrets. Anya, thanks for being here.
B: My pleasure! Happy to shed some light on the topic.
A: So, first off, according to the expert, do people regret more the things they did or didn't do?
B: Oh, overwhelmingly the things they DIDN'T do. It's a common misconception.
A: Fascinating. And which two regrets do you hear most often in your practice?
B: Easily, 'I wish I hadn't worked so hard' and 'I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself'. They come up time and again.
A: That makes a lot of sense. For listeners in their thirties, what do you suggest they do?
B: I tell them to ask what their future self wishes they'd start today — and do that ONE thing this week, not next year.
A: Excellent advice! And what do you say to people who feel 'it's already too late' to make changes?
B: I tell them it's almost never too late — the regret of NOT trying is heavier than the risk of failing. That's a crucial mindset shift.
A: Powerful words. On a more personal note, what is your own current regret?
B: Not learning Italian at twenty. I always loved the idea but kept putting it off.
A: And how are you now dealing with that regret, if you don't mind me asking?
B: Not at all! I started Italian at 58 — and have never been happier. It just shows, doesn't it?
- According to the expert, do people regret more the things they did or didn't do?
- Which two regrets does she hear most often?
- What does she suggest to a listener in their thirties?
- What does she say to people who feel 'it's already too late'?
- What is her own current regret?
- How is she now dealing with that regret?
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11. Dictation — key 'wish' structures
Listen again and complete each line with the missing verbs.
🎧 Life-coach — key structures
📄 Show transcript
A: Good morning everyone, and welcome back to the show. Today we're joined by life-coach, Dr. Anya Sharma, who's going to talk to us about regrets. Anya, thanks for being here.
B: My pleasure! Happy to shed some light on the topic.
A: So, first off, according to the expert, do people regret more the things they did or didn't do?
B: Oh, overwhelmingly the things they DIDN'T do. It's a common misconception.
A: Fascinating. And which two regrets do you hear most often in your practice?
B: Easily, 'I wish I hadn't worked so hard' and 'I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself'. They come up time and again.
A: That makes a lot of sense. For listeners in their thirties, what do you suggest they do?
B: I tell them to ask what their future self wishes they'd start today — and do that ONE thing this week, not next year.
A: Excellent advice! And what do you say to people who feel 'it's already too late' to make changes?
B: I tell them it's almost never too late — the regret of NOT trying is heavier than the risk of failing. That's a crucial mindset shift.
A: Powerful words. On a more personal note, what is your own current regret?
B: Not learning Italian at twenty. I always loved the idea but kept putting it off.
A: And how are you now dealing with that regret, if you don't mind me asking?
B: Not at all! I started Italian at 58 — and have never been happier. It just shows, doesn't it?
- I wish I (take) it. I wish I (tell) my father I loved him.
- I wish I (not / work) so hard.
- I wish I (have) the courage to live a life true to myself.
- Ask what your future self wishes you (start) today.
- I wish they (not / say) that. It's almost never too late.
- I wish I (learn) Italian when I was twenty.
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12. 🔥 Challenge — sentence transformation
Rewrite the second sentence to mean the same, using 2–5 words including the KEYWORD.
1. I'm sorry I didn't call her. → I wish I ___ her. (KEYWORD: CALLED)
2. I don't have any brothers. → I wish I ___ a brother. (KEYWORD: HAD)
3. My cat won't stop meowing at 5am. → I wish my cat ___ meowing at 5am. (KEYWORD: STOP)
4. I regret spending so much time online. → I wish I ___ so much time online. (KEYWORD: SPENT)
5. Unfortunately, I can't drive. → I wish I ___ drive. (KEYWORD: COULD)
6. It's a shame my neighbour doesn't talk to me. → If only my neighbour ___ to me. (KEYWORD: TALK)
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13. 🔥 Challenge — -ed or -ing?
Choose the correct form of each adjective.
This lesson is really ___ .
I'm ___ by everything you've told me.
Long queues in the supermarket are so ___ .
The kids were completely ___ by the magician.
That was the most ___ documentary I've ever seen.
I felt really ___ after her speech — she has a gift.
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14. 🔥 Challenge — odd one out
Three share a category. Pick the ODD ONE OUT.
1. Regret words:
2. Wish + past perfect signals:
3. -ING adjectives:
4. Pink's four regret types:
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15. 🔥 Challenge — extended writing
Write a 130–160 word 'letter you'll probably never send' — to your younger self, an old friend, a family member. Use AT LEAST 4 'wish + past perfect' regrets, 1 'wish + could', 1 'if only + would', and 3 different feeling adjectives (mix -ed and -ing).
Check your writing
- 130–160 words
- 4+ 'wish + past perfect' regrets
- 1 'wish + could'
- 1 'if only + would'
- 3+ different feeling adjectives (mix -ed and -ing)
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16. Self-check
Tick what you can now do confidently.
- I use 'wish + past simple' for present dissatisfaction.
- I use 'wish + could' for a present ability I don't have.
- I use 'wish + would' for other people's annoying habits (not for myself).
- I use 'wish + past perfect' for regrets about the past.
- I distinguish -ed (how I feel) from -ing (the thing that causes it).
- I stress content words and reduce function words in natural rhythm.
- I use falling intonation for regret, rising for hopeful wishes.
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