Wishes and regrets - I wish/if only

Exercises

Explanation

1. Why do we use I wish / If only?

We use these expressions when we want reality to be different—usually when a situation cannot easily change, or when it is impossible.

I wish: used for expressing regret, mild frustration, polite desires, or complaints.

• I wish I lived near the sea.

• I wish you were here with us.

If only: used for stronger emotion—more dramatic, intense, or urgent.

• If only he understood how difficult this is.

• If only I knew the answer!

Both forms express a contrast between reality and imagination.

2. I wish / If only about the present

When we want something to be different right now, we use a past form to show distance from reality:

• Past Simple

• Past Continuous

• could + infinitive

Meaning: “I want things to be different NOW.”

Examples:

• I wish I had more free time. (I don’t have enough now.)

• I wish I were relaxing on a beach right now. (But I’m not.)

• I wish I could understand this software better. (I can’t.)

• If only she knew how I feel.

• If only they were helping us today.

These sentences are similar in meaning to Second Conditional sentences.

3. I wish / If only about the past

When we express regret about something that already happened (or didn’t happen), we use:

• Past Perfect

• Past Perfect Continuous

Meaning: “I am unhappy about something that happened BEFORE.”

Examples:

• I wish I had taken that opportunity.

• I wish we had left earlier.

• If only he had paid attention during the meeting.

• If only I had been studying more regularly.

Use this pattern when you think: “It’s too late to change it now.”

These sentences correspond to Third Conditional structures.

4. I wish / If only about the future

We also use these expressions to talk about undesirable situations in the future - usually things that annoy us or things we hope will change.

Use:

• would + infinitive

• could + infinitive (for I/we)

Meaning: “I want a change in the future, but I can’t control it.”

Examples:

• I wish the traffic would improve soon.

• I wish you wouldn’t shout all the time.

• I wish I could travel next month.

• If only we could leave earlier tomorrow.

These sentences are similar to First Conditional wishes about future change.

5. Special notes about can and could

Present reality → wish uses could

• I can’t speak German. → I wish I could speak German.

Future reality → wish uses could

• I can’t join you tomorrow. → I wish I could join you.

Past reality → wish uses could have + V3

• I couldn’t attend the conference. → I wish I could have attended.

6. Using I wish as a short answer

When someone asks about something you want but do not have, you can reply briefly:

• Do you have time to help me?
  — I wish…

• Are you going abroad this year?
  — I wish…

It shows regret without repeating the full sentence.

7. Summary of structures

8. Extra examples

Present regrets

• I wish my apartment were bigger.

• If only I weren’t so tired today.

Past regrets

• I wish we had booked the tickets earlier.

• If only she had listened to the instructions.

Future desires

• I wish he would arrive on time for once.

• If only they would stop arguing.