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
I'm so tired. I wish I had gone home earlier last night. This is correct answer and according to the rule we suppose to talk about the past
Why we can't use I Wish I went home earlier last night. We are talking about the present, are we? I understand as we are speaking in the present.
Hello olisristeski,
In your sentence the wishing is in the present but the going is in the past (specifically, last night), so it is a wish about the past. Therefore, the past perfect is appropriate.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Thanks Peter for your explanation, for me sometimes is a bit difficult to make clear distinction when we are wishing in past or present
Hello!
I don't know whether this question has already been asked.
If I say "I hope to pass the exam", I use hope+infinitive.
I'd like to know if "I hope I passed the exam" is correct, meaning to use hope+past simple in the sense I hope now but still I don't know the result.
I have read on Cambrdige grammar the sentence "I hope she passed the exam" but in the sentence we have two different people.
So, may I use "I hope I passed the exam" instead of infinitive, by relating to the same person?
Best regards
Hi lumangela,
Thanks for your question! Yes, "I hope I passed the exam" is correct. It means that I have already taken the exam, but I am still waiting for the result.
On the other hand, if you say "I hope to pass the exam", I may or may not have taken it yet.
I hope that helps!
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
Hello! Could you tell me if I can say:
I wish I didn’t have to work tomorrow
Hi Yasmi97,
Yes, you can! It's correct.
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
Hello!
I have one more question regarding the if only + past simple/could and wish/if only + would (not) +V1 constructions
In this example, can we use If only + would?
If only the boarders were open now or If only the boarders would be open now?
could you please clarify if both sentences are correct with the construction IT`S (ABOUT) TIME
It`s (about) time you started living on your own or It`s (about) time you to start living on your own.
Thank you!
Hello AlexKat_,
1) It's possible to say both (a) 'If only the borders would open now' and (b) 'If only the borders were open now'.
(b) is probably more common and refers to the state of the borders (in other words, whether they are open or closed); it means that the borders are not open, but that we think it would be better if they were open.
(a) means the borders are not open and we want them to open now. It refers to the action of opening the borders, not so much to the state of the borders.
2) We use the past after 'it's about time', so only 'It's about time you started living on your own' is correct.
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Hello!
Is it possible to use 'wish' with 'could' to talk about things in the present or future that we would like to be different?
For example, I wish i could get a better job, but I haven`t got enough experience.
I wish i could help you or I wish I helped you. I wish I could be a star or I wish I was/were a star etc. Which one is correct or both variants are possible?
Is it okay to use "was" instead of "were" in spoken English?
I wish you was here/I wish I was special etc?