In continuation of our Conditionals series of posts, we’d like to devote this one to 2 very commonly used constructions – “I wish” and “if only.” Meaning-wise, both express wishes and hopes. However, note that we don’t have to use them to talk about the future every time. All you need to know about this grammar is in this article, including practical exercises, so read on…

Wishes About the Present

We use “wish” with past tense forms (Simple and Continuous) to express regret about present situations. For example:

• I wish I was* taller. (= I’m not very tall and that’s too bad.)
• I wish I was* going to that party with you. (But I’m not.)
• I wish you were more help. (But you’re not.)

“I wish I were” can replace “I wish I was.” To many people “I wish I were” sounds more correct:

• I wish I were taller.
• I wish I were going to that party with you.

Do not use “I wish I would” for a present situation. Instead, you can use “I wish I could.” For example:

• I wish I could tell her about it. (But I can’t.)
• I wish I could fly like a bird.

Wishes About the Future

We use “wish” with “would” to say how we would like somebody to behave in the future. For example:

• I wish you would stop talking. (= I hope you’ll stop talking / I hope you’ll refrain from talking.)
• I wish they would stop arguing. (I wish they will stop arguing.)
• I wish people would recycle their trash. (I wish people to recycle their trash.)
• W

We can also use this pattern in situations that do not involve people. For example:

• I wish this car would go faster.
• I wish this computer would stop freezing all the time.

Wishes About the Past

We use “wish” with the Past Perfect or “could have + V3” when we have regrets about the past. For example:

• I wish I hadn’t taken your advice. (But I did.)
• I wish she could have come. (But she didn’t.)
• I wish you could have been there. (Unfortunately, you weren’t able to be there.)

Summary of Patterns Using “Wish”

Verb form after “wish”	Time reference	Example & Meaning
Past Simple	present	I wish I knew the answer. (But I don’t know it.)
Past Simple	present	I wish I was/were better at sports. (I am not.)
Past Continuous	present	I wish I was/were going with you. (I am not.)
could	present	I wish I could help you. (I can’t.)
would	future	I wish you would be quiet. (Your talking irritates me, so I hope you’ll stop.)
Past Perfect	past	I wish I had known you then. (I didn’t.)
could have	past	I wish I could have explained. (I wasn’t able to.)

If Only

“If only” can be more emphatic than “I wish.” Compare:

• If only I had more money! / I wish I had more money!

Both sentences express a desire for more money, but they convey slightly different nuances. “If only I had more money” expresses a sense of longing or regret about the current situation. It implies that the speaker feels limited or restricted by their lack of money and suggests that having more money would greatly improve their circumstances. Thus, “if only” is used to express a strong desire for something that seems unattainable or difficult to achieve.

“I wish I had more money” also expresses a desire for more money, but it may not carry the same sense of longing or regret as the first sentence. It’s a straightforward expression of a wish or desire for a different financial situation. It’s a common way to express a desire for something better without necessarily emphasizing the sense of impossibility or frustration conveyed by “If only.”

The verb forms after “if only” are the same as the patterns with “I wish:”

• If only I had a bigger apartment. (But I don’t.)
• If only I were doing better at work. (But I am not.)
• If only you were here. (But you’re not.)
• If only the sun would come out. (But it’s not.)
• If only you could be here. (But you can’t and you’re not.)
• If only I had listened to you. (But I didn’t.)
• If only he could have explained. (But he wasn’t able to.)

Practice

Exercise 1. Click the link here and fill in the blanks with the appropriate verb form.

Exercise 2. What are your wishes and/or regrets? Write a couple of sentences about yourself using “I wish” and/or “if only” and post them in the comments below. We’ll be happy to comment back with our feedback on your grammar.