Drukt een wens of spijt uit over iets dat niet echt is: Had ik maar, kon ik, wist ik.",
(Expresses a wish or regret about something that is not real: had ik maar, kon ik, wist ik.)
Use the onvoltooid verleden tijd to express regret or an unfulfilled wish.
The situation is imaginary or unrealistic at this moment.
It is often accompanied by maar.
Situatie(Situation)
Voorbeelden(Examples)
Wens(Wish)
Was het al maar zomervakantie.(If only it were summer vacation already.) Had ik maar meer geld, dan kon ik mijn huur betalen. (If only I had more money, then I could pay my rent.) At ik maar wat gezonder, dan was ik slanker.(If only I ate a bit healthier, then I would be slimmer.)
Spijt(Regret)
Hadden we maar gewacht.(If only we had waited.) Had ik maar meer gespaard.(If only I had saved more.) Had ik maar beter geluisterd.(If only I had listened better.)
Exercise 1: Wensen uitdrukken met de onvoltooid verleden tijd
Had ik maar mijn betaling op tijd gedaan, dan ... ik geen boetes betalen.
(If only I had made my payment on time, I wouldn't have to pay any fines.)
3. Kopen:
Was ik maar rijk, dan ... ik een groot huis.
(If only I were rich, I would buy a big house.)
4. Hebben:
... ik maar meer geld om eten te kopen.
(If only I had more money to buy food.)
5. Weten:
... ik dat maar eerder!
(I wish I had known that earlier!)
6. Gaan:
Had ik maar meer gespaard, dan ... ik op wereldreis.
(If only I had saved more, I would go on a trip around the world.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction:
Choose the correct sentence in which a wish or regret is expressed using the past tense and 'maar' (if only).
1.
'But' ('maar') is incorrectly placed; it must come directly after 'If only I had' for a correct wish construction.
Infinitive used instead of past tense after 'maar' (if only). The correct form is 'to manage' (te regelen in Dutch).
2.
The verb form 'was' is incorrectly used here for expressing a wish with past tense in this context.
Incorrect use of present tense 'can' instead of past tense to express a wish.
3.
Incorrect word order; the correct form is 'pay safely' and not 'safely pay'.
Wrong: 'know' is present tense, but the wish requires past tense ('knew').
4.
Incorrect word order; 'earlier' must precede the past participle.
Incorrect infinitive 'check' instead of past participle 'checked' after 'If only we had'.
Exercise 3: Rewrite the phrases
Instruction:
Rewrite the sentences so that they express a wish or regret using ‘Had I only …’, ‘If only we had …’ or ‘If only …’ Use the past simple tense. Example: I have no time. → Had I only more time.
