Wish and if only
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.
Talking about the present
Talking about the past
Wish/if only and would
We use wish + would to talk about something in the present that we would like to change – usually something that we find annoying.
So I wish I wouldn’t eat so much chocolate is not possible although we can say I wish I didn’t eat so much chocolate.
Talking about the present
- If only I didn’t have so much homework I could go to the concert tonight. She has a lot of homework and she can’t go to the concert.
- I wish you didn’t live so far away.
- I wish I knew what to do.
Talking about the past
- I wish I’d studied harder when I was at school. He didn’t study harder when he was at school.
- I wish I hadn’t eaten all that chocolate. I feel sick.
- If only I’d known you were coming.
Wish/if only and would
We use wish + would to talk about something in the present that we would like to change – usually something that we find annoying.
- I wish you wouldn’t borrow my clothes without asking.
- I wish it would rain. The garden really needs some water.
- I wish you’d give up smoking. it’s really bad for you.
So I wish I wouldn’t eat so much chocolate is not possible although we can say I wish I didn’t eat so much chocolate.