I Wish and If Only | ESL Master

What I Wish and If Only Mean

We use I wish and if only to talk about things we would like to be different. The grammar is the same for both, but if only sounds stronger and more emotional.

I wish I had a bigger flat. (a calm wish)

If only I had a bigger flat! (the same wish, but more emphatic)

Notice that the verb after wish or if only is in the past form, even though we are talking about the present. The past tense here does not mean past time — it shows that the situation is unreal or imaginary.

Wishes About the Present

Use wish + past simple to talk about a present situation that you would like to be different.

Real present	Wish
`I do not have a car.`	`I wish I had a car.`
`She lives far away.`	`I wish she lived nearer.`
`I am not on holiday.`	`I wish I were on holiday.`

I wish I knew his phone number. (= I do not know it, and I would like to know it.)

Do you wish you had more free time?

Was or were?

After I wish, both was and were are common with I, he, she, it. Were is slightly more formal.

I wish I were taller. (formal)

I wish I was taller. (informal — also correct)

In fixed expressions, native speakers usually say were:

I wish it were Friday.

If only she were here.

Wishes About the Future: I Wish … Would

Use wish + would + base verb when you want someone or something to change their behaviour in the future. We often use this pattern to complain about annoying habits.

I wish you would stop interrupting me.

I wish it would stop raining.

I wish the bus would come.

If only she would listen!

Annoying situation	Wish
`He keeps shouting.`	`I wish he would stop shouting.`
`It keeps raining.`	`I wish it would stop raining.`
`My laptop keeps crashing.`	`If only my laptop would work properly.`

Important rule: do not use I wish I would

We do not normally use would to talk about ourselves, because we control our own actions. Use could instead.

Wrong	Right
~~I wish I would speak French.~~	`I wish I could speak French.`
~~I wish I would have more time.~~	`I wish I had more time.`

Brief Look at Past Regrets

You can also use wish to express a regret about the past, with wish + past perfect (had + past participle). This is fully covered at B2, but it is useful to recognise the pattern now.

I wish I had studied harder for the exam. (= I did not study hard, and now I am sorry about it.)

If only we had left earlier! (= We left late, and that was a problem.)

She wishes she had not said that. (= She said it, and now she regrets it.)

Real past	Past regret
`I did not study.`	`I wish I had studied.`
`He told her the secret.`	`He wishes he had not told her.`
`We missed the train.`	`If only we had not missed the train.`

For now, just remember this rule of thumb:

Time	Pattern
Present	`wish + past simple`
Future behaviour	`wish + would + base verb`
Past	`wish + past perfect`

I Wish vs. I Hope

Be careful — I wish is for situations that are unreal or unlikely. I hope is for things that are still possible.

Situation	Wish or hope?
It is raining now and I want it to stop.	`I wish it would stop raining.`
I have not seen the forecast yet.	`I hope it does not rain tomorrow.`
The exam is next week.	`I hope I pass the exam.`
I failed the exam yesterday.	`I wish I had passed the exam.`

A simple test: if the situation is already true (or already happened) and you cannot easily change it, use wish. If it is still open, use hope.

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Better	Why
I wish I have more money.	I wish I had more money.	After `wish` (present), use the past simple.
I wish I would be taller.	I wish I were taller. / I wish I was taller.	Do not use `would` to wish about yourself. Use the past simple.
I wish you will be quiet.	I wish you would be quiet.	Use `would`, not `will`, after `wish`.
I wish I studied more last year.	I wish I had studied more last year.	For past regrets, use `wish + past perfect`.
I hope I knew the answer.	I wish I knew the answer.	If the situation is already true, use `wish`, not `hope`.

Practice: Exercises

1 / 15

I wish I ___ a bigger flat. The one I have is too small.

Summary

Use I wish and if only to talk about situations you would like to be different. If only is more emphatic, but the grammar is the same.

For a present situation, use wish + past simple: I wish I had more time. For an annoying habit you want someone else to change in the future, use wish + would: I wish he would stop shouting. Never use would about yourself — use the past simple or could.

For past regrets, use wish + past perfect: I wish I had studied harder. This pattern is studied in detail at B2, but it is useful to recognise it now. Finally, remember the difference between wish (the situation is already unreal) and hope (the situation is still possible).