Wishes and regrets: I wish / if only
Express wishes for the present, regrets about the past, and complaints about behavior.
- check_circleI can express a wish about a present situation.
- check_circleI can express regret about a past situation.
- check_circleI can complain about someone's annoying behavior.
Discover
Meet today's English in a real situation — no rules yet. Read it once and try to guess the pattern in the words in bold. Underlined words open a short definition.
Anna: Hey, Mark. You look exhausted. What’s going on?
Mark: Oh, I’m just so tired. I wish I hadn’t stayed up so late last night watching that new series. If only I had gone to bed at a normal time!
Anna: I warned you!
Mark: I know, I know. I wish you wouldn’t remind me every time I make a mistake. You can be so stubborn when you want to be right!
Anna: Sorry. But hey, it’s almost the weekend.
Mark: True, but I wish I didn’t have to work this Saturday. If only I were independently wealthy, I would just travel the world.
Anna: Wouldn’t we all? Listen, I’m heading to that new café. Do you want to come?
Mark: I’d love to, but I’m completely broke right now. I wish I had more money.
Anna: I’ll treat you! But you have to promise me something.
Mark: What is it?
Anna: I wish you would stop being such a downer. Let’s go get some coffee and cheer up!
Mark: Deal!
Learn
Now the rules behind what you just saw — explained simply, with examples. Underlined words open a short definition — hover on desktop, tap on a phone.
We use I wish and if only to talk about things we would like to change. If only is usually a bit stronger and more dramatic than I wish.
1. Present wishes: I wish + Past Simple
To talk about a present situation that we are not happy with and would like to change, we use I wish or if only followed by the Past Simple.
- I wish I had more free time. (I don’t have enough free time now.)
- If only we knew the answer. (We don’t know the answer now.)
- I wish I were on a beach right now. (I am not on a beach.)
When using the verb to be, it’s common (and more formal) to use were instead of was for all subjects (I, he, she, it): I wish it were Friday.
2. Past regrets: I wish + Past Perfect
To express regret about something that happened (or didn’t happen) in the past, we use the Past Perfect (had + past participle).
- I wish I had studied more for the test. (I didn’t study enough, and now I regret it.)
- If only I hadn’t said that. (I said it, and I am sorry about it.)
Let’s learn a useful word related to taking things too far: overdo
3. Complaints about behavior: I wish + would + infinitive
When we want someone (or something) to change their behavior, or when we are annoyed by something happening now, we use would + infinitive.
- I wish you would stop tapping your pen. (Your tapping annoys me, please stop.)
- If only it would stop raining. (I am annoyed by the rain and want it to stop.)
Common Mistake: We cannot use would for things we have no control over, or for our own wishes.
I wish I would be taller.→ I wish I were taller.I wish I would have a better car.→ I wish I had a better car.
Here is another word often used when feeling frustrated: bother
- I wish / If only + Past Simple: Wishing the present situation was different. (I wish I had a car.)
- I wish / If only + Past Perfect: Regretting a past event. (I wish I had woken up earlier.)
- I wish / If only + would + infinitive: Complaining about someone’s behavior. (I wish you wouldn’t do that.)
- If only is slightly stronger than I wish.
Practice
Try it yourself. You'll see right away whether you got it right, plus a short explanation of why.
Use It
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Before you finish — be honest. Can you do these now?