I wish/ if only

I wish/ if only

1. We can say

   • if only
     • +
       • I/he/she/it was
       • I/he/she/it were
   • I wish

2. + Past simple

   • Things we'd like to be different now/in the future
     • I wish I were on a beach. ( I'm in the office)
     • If only he knew the truth. ( ...

3. + Past perfect

   • Things that happened in the past and we regret
     • I wish I hadn't quit my job two years ago
     • If only we hadn't wasted all that money

4. + Would

   • Things that annoy us
     • we'd like them to change /stop
       • if only I would stop raining it's been ten days