Language Practice

Upper-intermediate

Grammar reference    Intermediate 12 Family and relationships

Wish and if only
We use wish and if only to say that we want things to be different from how they are or
were. In these situations, we can use either expression but, generally, if only is more
emphatic than wish.
I wish I had travelled last summer.
If only I had travelled last summer.

Regrets in the present

wish or if only + past tense
To talk about regrets in the present, we use wish or if only plus the past tense.
I wish I could draw really well.
If only I could draw really well.
I wish my kitchen was bigger.
If only my kitchen was bigger.

Regrets in the past

wish or if only + past perfect
To express regrets in the past, we use wish or if only plus the past perfect.
I wish you‘d visited me when I lived abroad.
If only you‘d visited me when I lived abroad.
He wishes he had studied harder in school.
If only he had studied harder in school.

Things we want to happen or change in the future

wish + person / thing + would
To talk about things we want to happen, or to change, in the future, we use wish
plus person or thing plus would. We often use this structure to express annoyance
or dissatisfaction.
She wishes her boyfriend would cook her dinner.
If only her boyfriend would cook her dinner.
I wish my flat would allow pets.
If only my flat would allow pets.
We can also sometimes include a second clause after if only.
If only I had a bicycle, I would ride it to work.
Note that would cannot have the same subject and object.
I wish she would get a better job.