Wishes and regrets - I wish/if only

Exercises

Explanation

1. Why we use “I wish” and “If only”

We use these phrases when reality is not the way we want it to be.

I wish → softer, more common
If only → stronger feeling, more dramatic

Examples:
I wish I lived in a quieter neighbourhood.
If only I knew what to do next!

2. Wishes about the present (unreal now)

We use the Past Simple, Past Continuous, or could to show that the present situation is different from our wish.

Form: I wish / If only + Past Simple / Past Continuous / could

Meaning: I want something to be different now, but it is not.

Examples:

I wish I had a better camera. (I don’t have one.)
I wish I weren’t working today. (But I am.)
If only I could drive! (I can’t right now.)
If only they were helping us this week.

This idea is similar to the second conditional.

3. Wishes about the past (regret about something that happened)

We use the Past Perfect or Past Perfect Continuous when we are unhappy about something that happened earlier.

Form:

I wish / If only + had + V3
I wish / If only + had been + -ing

Meaning: I regret something that happened (or didn’t happen) in the past.

Examples:

I wish I had taken that job offer.
I wish we had left before traffic started.
If only she had listened to the advice.
If only I had been studying more carefully.

This is similar to the third conditional.

4. Wishes about the future (things we want to change)

We use would or could to show we want a situation to improve in the future. This often expresses irritation or a desire for change.

Form:

I wish / If only + would + infinitive
I wish / If only + could + infinitive (for I/we)

Meaning: I want something to change in the future.

Examples:

I wish the buses would arrive on time.
I wish you wouldn’t interrupt me so often.
If only we could travel next month.
If only the weather would stay warm.

5. Special notes on can → could / could have

Present ability → could
I can’t cook well. → I wish I could cook better.

Future possibility → could
I can’t come tomorrow. → I wish I could come.

Past ability → could have + V3
I couldn’t visit them last year. → I wish I could have visited them.

6. Short answers with “I wish”

We sometimes use I wish… as a short response to show regret.

Are you free tonight?
— I wish… (meaning: “I’m not free.”)

Do you own a car?
— I wish… (meaning: “I don’t.”)

7. Summary Table