I Wish/If Only

I Wish/If Only

are both used to talk about regrets
1. things that we would like to change either about the past or the present.
Talking about the present
1. both wish and if only are followed by the past simple tense
  1. the past tense emphasises that we are talking about something ‘unreal’.
    1. I wish you didn’t live so far away.
    2. I wish I knew what to do
Talking about the past
1. both wish and if only are followed by the past perfect tense when we talk about past regrets.
  1. If only I’d known you were coming.
  2. I wish I hadn’t eaten all that chocolate. I feel sick.
Wish/If Only and Would
1. we use wish + would to talk about something in the present that we would like to change
  1. usually something that we find annoying.
    1. we can only use wish + would to talk about things we can’t change.
      1. I wish you wouldn’t borrow my clothes without asking.
      2. I wish it would rain. The garden really needs some water.

Resource summary

	Created by Juan Manuel Mejía A. about 9 years ago