Wish & if only

Note: wish is a verb but if only is a phrase so it is followed by a verb

1. wish/if only + past simple tense
use: to express unhappiness or dissatisfaction about a present situation that
cannot easily be changed
e.g. Mike isn't very tall. He wishes he were taller so he could get into the basketball
team
We live in a very bad neighbourhood. If only we didn't live here
I don't have very much money. I wish I had more money then I could buy a car
We often use wish/if only + could (do) for desires/ambitions/dream etc. for the present or
future
e.g. Sharon wishes she could marry a rich and handsome man one day
If only I could fly to the moon
Note: we can also use past continuous tense
e.g. Tony wishes he was working in an office instead of a factory
If only I wasn’t learning French because I hate it

2. wish/if only + past perfect simple tense

use: to express regret about a past action or situation
e.g. If only I had gone to Paul’s party - everyone said it was really great
Fred wishes he hadn't spent all his money at the weekend, as now he has no
money until next Saturday
We’re lost! If only we had brought a map with us
I really wish I hadn't shouted at my girlfriend, as now she won't speak to me
Note: we can also use past perfect continuous tense
e.g. Jane wished she had been listening when the teacher explained the
homework
If only she hadn't been driving so fast. Then she could have avoided the
accident

Note: The relationship between this form and the verb regret:
e.g. I regret selling my car (or I regret having sold my car)
= I wish I hadn’t sold my car (or If only I hadn’t sold my car)
 Mary regrets taking the job (or Mary regrets having taken the job)
= Mary wishes she hadn’t taken the job (or If only Mary hadn’t taken the
job
We regret not accepting your offer (or We regret not having accepted your
offer)
= We wish we had accepted your offer (or If only we had accepted your offer)
Thomas regrets not telling the truth (or Thomas regrets not having told the
truth)
= Thomas wishes he had told the truth (or If only Thomas had told the truth)
When the verb regret is positive, wish/if only must be negative. When regret is
negative, wish/if only are positive

3. wish/if only + would (do)

use: to express unhappiness or dissatisfaction about someone else's actions or
behaviour. The speaker wants the situation to change but doesn't believe it will.
e.g. Billy’s mother wishes he wouldn't leave his clothes on the floor
I wish you would get your hair cut - it’s much too long
Everyone wishes the police would do something about drug-related crime

Note: in English, we often use this form to talk about the weather!
e.g. If only it would stop raining
I wish it would get warmer. I’ve had enough of this cold weather

Practice:
Rewrite the following sentences using wish/if only

1. I told my best friend she was ugly.

If only ___________________________________________________________.

2. Tracey dreams of becoming a ballet-dancer.

Tracey wishes ____________________________________________________.

 3. I missed the plane because I overslept.

I wish ___________________________________________________________.

4. Stop singing Donald - it's annoying me!

I wish ___________________________________________________________.

5. I didn't go to the party because nobody told me about it.

If only ___________________________________________________________.

6. It's a pity John can't drive a car.

If only ___________________________________________________________.

7. He regrets phoning his girlfriend so late.

He wishes ______________________________________________________.

8. I don't know what is wrong with my laptop.

If only _________________________________________________________.

9. Bill had an accident and damaged his car.

Bill wishes ______________________________________________________.

10. Why didn't he ask them to come earlier?

If only _________________________________________________________.

11. My neighbour always parks his car outside my garage.

If only _________________________________________________________.

12. We live in a really terrible area.

We wish _________________________________________________________.

13. He didn't study very hard at school.

He wishes _______________________________________________________.

14. I want certain countries to stop killing whales.

If only ___________________________________________________________.

15. I'm really sorry that we argued on Saturday.

 If only ___________________________________________________________.

16. Arthur regrets coming to live in America.

Arthur wishes _____________________________________________________.

17. John refuses to wear a coat when it is cold outside.

If only ___________________________________________________________.

18. Why didn't you tell me?

I wish ___________________________________________________________.

19. They are very poor.

They wish _______________________________________________________.

20. I regret not having gone to the meeting.

If only __________________________________________________________.

21. I didn't attend the concert and now I feel sorry.

I wish ___________________________________________________________.

22. I really regret having sold my computer.

If only ___________________________________________________________.

23. His wife never stops complaining.

He wishes _______________________________________________________.

24. It's a pity she didn't take his advice.

If only __________________________________________________________.

25. You always drive so carelessly.

I wish __________________________________________________________.