Look at these examples to see how wish and if only are used.
That guy is so annoying! I wish he'd stop talking.
I wish I lived closer to my family.
If only I hadn't lost her phone number. She must think I'm so rude for not calling her.
I wish they wouldn't park their car in front of my house.
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
- Grammar test 1
Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
We use wish and if only to talk about things that we would like to be different in either the present or the past. If only is usually a bit stronger than wish.
In the present
We can use wish/if only + a past form to talk about a present situation we would like to be different.
I wish you didn't live so far away.
If only we knew what to do.
He wishes he could afford a holiday.
In the past
We can use wish/if only + a past perfect form to talk about something we would like to change about the past.
They wish they hadn't eaten so much chocolate. They're feeling very sick now.
If only I'd studied harder when I was at school.
Expressing annoyance
We can use wish + would(n't) to show that we are annoyed with what someone or something does or doesn't do. We often feel that they are unlikely or unwilling to change.
I wish you wouldn't borrow my clothes without asking.
I wish it would rain. The garden really needs some water.
She wishes he'd work less. They never spend any time together.
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
- Grammar test 2
Hello Ayn,
Great! 'was' and 'were' both mean exactly the same thing here. Many years ago, only 'were' was correct here because it is the subjunctive form. But over the years, 'was' has come to be accepted as an alternative. There are still some people who have a more traditional view that might say that 'were' is really the only correct form, but if you look at how people speak and write, you'll find both forms in common use.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello aymanme2,
Yes, that's correct. Well done! It looks as if you understand this very well.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello MARUFA MARJAN PRITHIE,
Your sentence describes a past situation and you are talking about an something which was not true (you did not meet her). For an unreal past like this you use wish + past perfect. Thus, the correct answer is b - I wish I had met her.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello again MARUFA MARJAN PRITHIE,
'I wish I would have...' is not a standard form. As you say, 'I wish I had...' is correct.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team