Wish / If only

Wish and if only express a wish about the present (wish + past simple), a regret about the past (wish + past perfect), or annoyance at someone's behaviour (wish + would): I wish I had more time. I wish I had studied. I wish you would stop shouting.

Wish + past simple talks about a present situation we want to be different: I wish I knew the answer (= I don't know it now). With the verb be, we usually use were for all persons: I wish I were taller. Wish + past perfect expresses regret about something in the past that cannot be changed: I wish I had listened to you (= I didn't listen). Wish + would + base verb shows irritation about a present habit or a situation that someone could change but doesn't: I wish you would be quieter. If only is more emphatic than wish and follows the same patterns: If only I had known! We never use wish + would about ourselves.

+ wish/if only + Past Simple (present) | wish + Past Perfect (past) | wish + would + V (annoyance)

• I wish I lived nearer the city centre.
• She wishes she had taken that job offer.
• I wish you would help me more often.

− wish + didn't/wasn't-weren't + V | wish + hadn't + V3 | wish + wouldn't + V

• I wish I didn't have to work today.
• He wishes he hadn't said that.
• I wish it wouldn't rain so much here.

? Do you wish you were …? / Don't you wish you had …?

• Don't you wish you spoke French?
• Do you ever wish you had travelled more?

• ENI wish I had a bigger house.

  KZМенде үлкенірек үй болғанын қалар едім.

  RUХотел бы я иметь дом побольше.

• ENShe wishes she were on holiday right now.

  KZОл қазір демалыста болғанын қалайды.

  RUОна хотела бы сейчас быть в отпуске.

• ENI wish I hadn't eaten so much at dinner.

  KZКешкі асты сонша көп жемей қойғанымды қалар едім.

  RUЖаль, что я столько съел за ужином.

• ENHe wishes he had studied medicine instead of law.

  KZОл заң емес, медицинаны оқыған болғанын қалайды.

  RUОн хотел бы изучать медицину, а не право.

• ENI wish you would stop interrupting me.

  KZСөзімді бөлмегеніңді қалар едім.

  RUХотел бы я, чтобы ты перестал меня перебивать.

• ENIf only I knew his phone number!

  KZОның телефон нөмірін білсем ғана!

  RUЕсли бы я только знал его номер телефона!

• ENIf only we hadn't missed the train.

  KZПойыздан қалмасақ ғана еді.

  RUЕсли бы мы только не опоздали на поезд.

• ENI wish I could speak Chinese fluently.

  KZҚытай тілінде еркін сөйлей алсам ғана еді.

  RUХотел бы я свободно говорить по-китайски.

• ENThey wish they had bought the house last year.

  KZОлар үйді өткен жылы сатып алғанды қалайды.

  RUОни хотели бы, чтобы купили дом в прошлом году.

• ENI wish you wouldn't leave your clothes on the floor.

  KZКиімдеріңді еденге тастамағаныңды қалар едім.

  RUХотел бы я, чтобы ты не бросал одежду на пол.

• ✗ I wish I am taller.

  ✓ I wish I were taller.

  Present wish about now needs Past Simple, and were with be.

• ✗ I wish I studied harder last year.

  ✓ I wish I had studied harder last year.

  Regret about the past needs wish + Past Perfect.

• ✗ I wish you will be quieter.

  ✓ I wish you would be quieter.

  Annoyance about someone's behaviour needs wish + would.

• ✗ I wish I would be rich.

  ✓ I wish I were rich.

  Wish + would is not used about yourself.

Wish + Past Simple vs Wish + Past Perfect

Wish + Past Simple is about now (I wish I had a car = I don't have one now). Wish + Past Perfect is about the past and cannot be changed (I wish I had bought a car = I didn't buy one then).

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