Wishes: 'wish' and 'if only'

Wishes: 'wish' and 'if only'

Do you know how to use wish and if only to talk about things you would like to change? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

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

'wish' and 'if only': 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

'wish' and 'if only': Grammar test 2

Language level

Average: 4.4 (66 votes)

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

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Submitted by aymanme2 on Thu, 18/02/2021 - 16:53

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Thanks a lot, sir. I have another question. Which is the right option? I wish mom __(didn't whistle _ hadn't whistled) while she was doing the washing up. I think it is 'hadn't whistled' to express a wish of a past action; While she WAS DOING ....... I think 'didn't whistle / wouldn't whistle' can work if we say: I which mom didn't whistle / wouldn't whistle while SHE IS doing the washing up. = to express a present wish.

Hello aymanme2,

Yes, that's correct. Well done! It looks as if you understand this very well.

All the best,

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

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Submitted by Rafaela1 on Thu, 18/02/2021 - 14:30

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If only I'd been a human being. ;) ʕ•ﻌ•ʔฅ

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Submitted by MARUFA MARJAN … (not verified) on Thu, 18/02/2021 - 06:30

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I'm having some trouble with this sentence, it would be kind enough if someone could help me... Let, I never met my mother-in-law coz she had died long before we got married, in this case what should I say... a. I wish I met her. b. I wish I had met her. c. I wish I could meet her.

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

Thank you for ur reply... One more qstn... I hear so many people say- "I wish I would have met her 20 years ago" Is this grammatically correct? Shouldn't it be "I wish I had met her 20 years ago" ?

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

Submitted by BETSY on Thu, 18/02/2021 - 00:10

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I´m confused, in test 1says.."If only he were here now", but I have learned that "were" is used in the second person (you) and "was" with third person. Could you help me.