I wish/ If only- Unit 9 (Ticket to English2)

Wishes about the present
We use wish with past Tense forms (simple and continuous) to express regret about present situations:

⇒ I wish I was going with you = (but I'm not)

⇒  I wish I was taller = (I’m not very tall)

⇒ I wish you were more help. = (you are not) I wish I were can replace I wish I was.

To many people, I wish I were  sounds more correct:

I wish I were taller.

We use wish with could to express a wish for a present situation to be different:

 I wish I could use a computer well.

√ I wish I could tell her about it.

X I wish I would tell her about it.

• Past Simple >        present>       I wish I knew the answer. (= I don’t know)
• Past Simple >        present >      I wish I was /were better at sports. (= I'm not)
• Past Continuous > present >   I wish I was /were going with you. (= I'm not)     
• Could >                 present > I wish I could give you an answer. (= I can't)
• Would >                future > I wish you would be quiet. (= Your talking irritates me.)
• Past Perfect >        past > I wish I had known you then. (= but I didn't)
• Could have >         past> I wish I could have explained. (= I wasn't able to)

Wishes about the future

We use wish with would to say how we would like somebody to behave in the future:

⊗ I wish you to stop talking.

√ I wish you would stop talking.

X I wish that they will stop arguing.

√ I wish they would stop arguing.

 We can also use this pattern in situations that do not involve people:

⇒ I wish this car would go faster.

Wishes about the past

We use wish with the Past Perfect when we have Regrets about the past:

• ⇒ I wish I hadn't taken your advice. (= but I did)
• ⇒ I wish she could have come. (= but she didn't)

If only

If only can be more emphatic than I wish. The verb forms after if only are the same as the patterns with wish:

• ⇒ If only I had more money! (= but I haven't)
• ⇒ If only I was going on holiday with you!
• ⇒ If only you were here. (= but you re not)
• ⇒ If only the sun would come out!
• ⇒ If only you could be here! (= but you're not)
• ⇒ If only I'd listened to you! (=but I didn't )
• ⇒ If only he could have explained! (=but he wasn't able to)