Wish and if only

• Wish for the present
• Wish for the past
• Wish + would (complaints and desires for change)
• If only
• Summary

Wish for the present

We use wish + past simple to talk about things we want to be different in the present but that are not true. It is like a present imaginary situation.

I wish I had more time. => But I don't have more time.

She wishes she lived near the beach. => But she doesn't.

I wish I spoke French. => But I don't speak French.

Like in the second conditional, we use were instead of was in formal English: I wish I were taller.

Wish for the past

We use wish + past perfect to express regret about the past. Things that happened (or didn't happen) that we want to change.

I wish I had studied harder.

She wishes she hadn't said that.

I wish I had traveled more when I was young.

Wish + would (complaints and desires for change)

We use wish + would to complain about situations we want to change, or about other people's behavior.

I wish it would stop raining.

I wish you would listen to me.

She wishes he would call her more often.

We don't normally use wish + would about ourselves. We don't say I wish I would... We say I wish I could...

If only

If only is a stronger version of wish. It works exactly the same way:

If only I had more time!

If only I had studied harder!

If only it would stop raining!

Summary

*wish* + past simple => present wish (I wish I had a car.)

*wish* + past perfect => past regret (I wish I had bought that car.)

*wish* + *would* => complaint/desire for change (I wish it would rain.)

*if only* => stronger version of *wish*