Chapitre 1 · Semestre 1 · Unité 1
Gifts of youth
Units 1 – 5
Theme: Gifts of youth
Youth is the period between childhood and adulthood. It is a time of energy, creativity, ambition and idealism, but also of challenges: the generation gap, peer pressure, unemployment and the search for identity.
Vocabulary
| Word / expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| teenager / adolescent | a young person aged 13–19 |
| generation gap | differences of opinions and values between young and old people |
| peer pressure | influence from people of the same age |
| to take part in | to participate |
| volunteer work | unpaid work to help others |
| ambitious / enthusiastic / energetic | qualities often associated with youth |
| to shoulder responsibilities | to accept responsibilities |
| youth club / youth centre | place where young people meet for activities |
Grammar: expressing wishes and regrets
| Structure | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| wish / if only + past simple | a wish about the present | I wish I had more free time. |
| wish / if only + past perfect | a regret about the past | If only I had studied harder last year. |
| wish + would + verb | a wish for a change / annoyance | I wish my brother would stop shouting. |
| wish + could | ability we don't have | I wish I could speak Chinese. |
Note: with wish, we often use were for all persons: I wish I were older.
Function: expressing wishes and regrets
- I'd love to… / I'd really like to…
- I regret not doing… / I regret having done…
- I should have / shouldn't have + past participle (criticism of a past action): I should have listened to my parents.
Writing: a paragraph about your hopes as a young person
- Topic sentence: introduce the idea (As a young Moroccan, I have many hopes for the future.)
- Supporting sentences: give 2–3 ideas with examples (studies, job, helping the community).
- Concluding sentence: sum up.
Use linking words: first, moreover, in addition, finally, to sum up.
Exercise 1 — Wishes and regrets
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form.
- I didn't revise for the test. I wish I (revise) ________ more.
- My town has no youth club. I wish there (be) ________ one.
- She can't swim. She wishes she (can) ________ swim.
- My neighbours are very noisy. I wish they (stop) ________ making noise at night.
Voir le corrigé
- had revised (regret about the past)
- were (wish about the present)
- could
- would stop
Exercise 2 — Rewrite the sentences
- I'm sorry I didn't accept the offer. → I wish…
- It's a pity I don't have a computer. → If only…
- It was a mistake to leave school early. → I should…
Voir le corrigé
- I wish I had accepted the offer.
- If only I had a computer.
- I should not have left school early. (or: I shouldn't have left school early.)
Summary — Gifts of youth
- Vocabulary: teenager, generation gap, peer pressure, volunteer work, ambitious, to take part in.
- wish / if only + past simple → present wish (I wish I had…).
- wish / if only + past perfect → past regret (I wish I had done…).
- wish + would → wish for change; wish + could → ability.
- should have + past participle → criticism of a past action.
- Writing: topic sentence → supporting ideas → concluding sentence.