We use wish and if only to express desires, regrets, and dissatisfaction. The tense after wish / if only moves one step back in time.
Wish + Past Simple — Unreal Present Desires
Use this to say you want something now to be different from how it is.
| Structure | Example | | ------------------ | ------------------------------ | | wish + past simple | I wish I had a car. | | wish + could | She wishes she could sing. | | wish + were | I wish I were taller. |
I wish I had more free time. (I don't have enough free time.) She wishes she lived closer. (She lives far away.)
Use were (not was) for all subjects: I wish I were / he were / they were.
Wish + Past Perfect — Regrets About the Past
Use this to express regret about something that did or did not happen in the past.
| Structure | Example | | ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | | wish + past perfect | I wish I had studied harder. | | wish + could have | She wishes she could have attended the party. |
I wish I had not said that. (I said it and regret it.) He wishes he had taken the job. (He did not take it.)
Wish + Would — Annoyance or Impatience
Use this to complain about a situation you want to change but cannot control.
| Structure | Example | | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | | wish + would + base | I wish you would stop interrupting. | | wish + wouldn't + base | She wishes the neighbours wouldn't play loud music. |
I wish it would stop raining. (I am tired of the rain.) He wishes his boss would listen more. (His boss does not listen.)
Warning: You cannot use wish + would about yourself (~~I wish I would...~~ is incorrect).
If Only
If only is a stronger, more emphatic version of wish. It follows the same tense rules.
| If Only | Meaning | | -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | | If only I had more money. | (present desire — stronger than "I wish") | | If only I had known earlier. | (past regret — stronger than "I wish") | | If only you would listen! | (annoyance — stronger than "I wish") |
If only I had studied medicine.
Summary Table
| Tense after wish | Time reference | Meaning | | ---------------- | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | | past simple | present | I want a present situation to be different. | | past perfect | past | I regret something that happened / didn't happen. | | would + base | present / future | I am annoyed and want a change. |
Common Mistakes
- Using present tense after wish: ~~I wish I have more money.~~ → I wish I had more money.
- Using wish + would about yourself: ~~I wish I would stop procrastinating.~~ → I wish I could stop procrastinating.
- Using was instead of were: ~~I wish I was taller.~~ → I wish I were taller.
- Confusing wish (unreal) with hope (real possibility): I wish I were rich (unreal) vs I hope I get rich (possible).