Wishes / if only ...

We can use I wish or if only to express a wish.

Wish and ‘If only’ are both used to talk about regrets – things that we would like to change either about the past or the present.

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We use past tense modals would and could to talk about wishes for the future:

- I wish you would put those shelves up soon.

- Tom wishes his neighbors wouldn't make so much noise.

- I don’t like my work. I wish I could get a better job.

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We use past tense forms to talk about wishes for the present:

- I wish I lived in a big city. It's so boring in the countryside.

- We all wish we had more money, don't we?

- If only I was taller, I might be better at basketball.

- These seats are very uncomfortable. I wish we were travelling first class.

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We use the past perfect to talk about wishes for the past:

- I wish I had worked harder when I was at school.
- Mary wishes she had listened to what her mother told her.
- I wish I hadn't spent so much money last month.

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