Look at these examples to see how wish and if only are used.
That guy is so annoying! I wish he'd stop talking.
I wish I lived closer to my family.
If only I hadn't lost her phone number. She must think I'm so rude for not calling her.
I wish they wouldn't park their car in front of my house.
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
- Grammar test 1
Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
We use wish and if only to talk about things that we would like to be different in either the present or the past. If only is usually a bit stronger than wish.
In the present
We can use wish/if only + a past form to talk about a present situation we would like to be different.
I wish you didn't live so far away.
If only we knew what to do.
He wishes he could afford a holiday.
In the past
We can use wish/if only + a past perfect form to talk about something we would like to change about the past.
They wish they hadn't eaten so much chocolate. They're feeling very sick now.
If only I'd studied harder when I was at school.
Expressing annoyance
We can use wish + would(n't) to show that we are annoyed with what someone or something does or doesn't do. We often feel that they are unlikely or unwilling to change.
I wish you wouldn't borrow my clothes without asking.
I wish it would rain. The garden really needs some water.
She wishes he'd work less. They never spend any time together.
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
- Grammar test 2
Hello Sir,
Can I answer test 1 question like this?
It looks like rain. I wish I could bring my umbrella.
In test 2, I don't know why this is incorrect.
If only I took the time off work, I'd come and visit you.
Could you explain the sentence?
Hello Aung Qui,
Re: test 1, yes, that is a possible correct answer. It would appropriate when you hadn't left home already. But if you were already out, then the correct answer in the exercise would be correct and 'could bring' would not.
Re: test 2, the idea is that the speaker isn't able to take time off work. They have the desire to take time off, but they are not able to, perhaps because they have already used all their available leave. 'could take' best expresses this idea. 'took' would be speaking about the present or future, but it would be odd to regret something that you can still change.
Does that make sense?
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
in grammar test 1
it looks the good answer is not correct:
Hello jlbaby,
Both 'was' and 'were' are correct here. We can use 'were' for all persons (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) in a clause referring to an unreal time.
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Dear Kirk, Peter or Jonathan
I have a doubt and I hope you can help me:
The followed sentences are both correct, aren’t they?
1 If only I knew what doing
2 If only I had known what doing
In the first one, we talk about a present situation, right?
Instead, in the last one, we talk about a state concluded in the past.
The use of if only/wish + Past Perfect shows us like a sensation of regret, because we would have done something different in the past. Is it true?
My last doubt: I don’t understand if we have to use wish+would/wouldn’t only to talk about present situations.
Thanks for your marvellous work.
Hello Libra23,
No, those sentences are not correct. First of all, after 'If only...' we shift the tense back so a past form describes the present and a past perfect form describes the past:
Next, after 'what' you need a clause, not just an -ing form:
Wish + would describes something we don't like about the present. It is used when there is a choice involved:
We don't use 'wish' to talk about the future. Instead, we use 'hope' or 'believe':
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello Peter,
The difference between wish/if only + past tense and wish + would/wouldn’t is that in the last one there’s “a choice involved”, isn’t it? So, if I say:
I wish he would eat more healthy ——> I think he can change his life style
I wish he ate more healthy ——> I don’t think there’s any choice
Could you add more examples about hope/believe to talk about the future?
Hello Libra23,
Almost! The first sentence involves choice in the sense that it is his decision - he can choose to eat more healthily or not.
The second sentence is just a statement of what you would like to be different. It doesn't tell us if the change would be because of a decision, a change in the world, dumb luck or anything else.
In other words, we only use would in this context when there is a choice or a decision involved. We can can the past form in any situation we would like to be different.
Examples:
But we can't say:
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi Jonathan,
Is this correct ?
1- The simple past could be in the present or future tense
About the present
# could be the same meaning the simple present tense Or now OR just the meaning about now with stative verbs ?
examples
I wish I spoke Italian (mean now or the same meaning the simple present tense )
I wish I was taller (mean now )
I wish it didn't rain so much (mean now or the same meaning the simple present tense )
About the future
2- can I use any verb or just with stative verbs ?
example
I wish he came tomorrow
I wish he enjoyed with me tomorrow
I wish tomorrow was holiday
Hi HLH,
1. I'm afraid I don't quite understand the questions. "Simple past" and "tense" are the names of grammar structures. The simple past cannot be the present or future tense, but the simple past can have a present or future meaning.
Yes, the three examples here do mean "now". Their meaning is about the present (precisely, an unreal or imagined present), but that does not mean they are the same as the simple present tense.
2. Yes, you can use "I wish" with non-stative verbs too. "I wish he came tomorrow" is fine, but "I wish he would come tomorrow" may sound more natural.
The second example isn't right because the verb "enjoy" needs an object (e.g. "enjoyed himself"). It would sound more natural to say something like "I wish he could come to (hang out) with me tomorrow".
The third example is good but should be: "I wish tomorrow was a holiday".
I hope that helps.
Jonathan