Wishes: 'wish' and 'if only'
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
it's new for me
๐๐๐ค๐๐๐ค: ๐จ๐๐ค๐ / ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ช
๐ท-๐ธ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: ๐ ๐๐๐/๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข + ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ :(present regret)
ษดแดแดแด: ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ผ๐ป๐น๐ is a bit stronger or more emotional than ๐๐ถ๐๐ต.
Example 1: I ๐๐ถ๐๐ต I ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ปโ๐ arrive late to work.
Context: I keep regretting it because it happens too often. Maybe in the future, I should wake up earlier or set the alarm before going to bed.
Example 2: ๐๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ you ๐๐ข๐ your homework instead of watching TV.
๐ธ-๐ธ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ : ๐ ๐๐๐/๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข+ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: (past regret)
Exemple 1 : I ๐ ๐๐๐ I ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ป the highway to avoid this traffic.
Context: I'm stuck now, but the regret points to the choice I made earlier (not taking the highway).
Example 2: Itโs cold in Barcelona this morning. I ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐โ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ป my coat.
๐น-๐ด๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐๐: ๐๐๐๐ + ๐ ๐๐๐๐(๐'๐)
Example 1: I ๐ ๐๐๐ you ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ง'๐ญ raise your voice at me.
Context: I'm complaining about someoneโs behavior and expressing a desire for them to stop doing it.
Example 2: Your mother ๐ ๐๐๐es you ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ give up drinking coffee in the evening. She saw that youโre not sleeping well at night and often getting to school very late.
Example 3 : I ๐ ๐๐๐ I ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ change my career path.
Hello sir, is it also correct to use 'wouldn't have to' in the sentence "I wish I didn't have to go to work tomorrow." ?
Hello HungKK,
No, that is not correct. Would in this context describes a choice not an obligation.
When the sentence is about a person's choice or behaviour you can use 'would' when you are talking about someone else but not yourself. For example:
This is because if it is your choice you can simply not do it; there is no reason to wish for a change in behaviour if you are controlling the behaviour.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Thank you, both Peter and HungKK.
First of all, I truly appreciate HungKK's question; it was exactly my wonder.
Second of all, I am thankful to Peter for your detailed, informative answer.
Love u two,
Stella
Hi
Hello Sir,
Can I answer test 1 question like this?
It looks like rain. I wish I could bring my umbrella.
In test 2, I don't know why this is incorrect.
If only I took the time off work, I'd come and visit you.
Could you explain the sentence?
Hello Aung Qui,
Re: test 1, yes, that is a possible correct answer. It would appropriate when you hadn't left home already. But if you were already out, then the correct answer in the exercise would be correct and 'could bring' would not.
Re: test 2, the idea is that the speaker isn't able to take time off work. They have the desire to take time off, but they are not able to, perhaps because they have already used all their available leave. 'could take' best expresses this idea. 'took' would be speaking about the present or future, but it would be odd to regret something that you can still change.
Does that make sense?
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
in grammar test 1
it looks the good answer is not correct:
Hello jlbaby,
Both 'was' and 'were' are correct here. We can use 'were' for all persons (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) in a clause referring to an unreal time.
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team