I wish/If only grammarWish and If onlyWish 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 presentIf only I didnt have so much homework I could go to the concert tonight. She has a lot of homework and she cant go to the concert.

I wish you didnt live so far away.

I wish I knew what to do.

When we talk about present regrets, both wish and if only are followed by the past simple tense. The past tense emphasises that we are talking about something unreal.

Talking about the pastI wish Id studied harder when I was at school. He didnt study harder when he was at school.

I wish I hadnt eaten all that chocolate. I feel sick.

If only Id known you were coming.

Both wish and if only are followed by the past perfect tense when we talk about past regrets.

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 wouldnt borrow my clothes without asking.

I wish it would rain. The garden really needs some water.

I wish youd give up smoking. its really bad for you.

NB We can only use wish + would to talk about things we cant change.

So I wish I wouldnt eat so much chocolate is not possible although we can say I wish I didnt eat so much chocolate.

Type 3: If + past perfect / would + perfect infinitiveE.g.: If I had had enough money, I would have gone to New York. (I wanted to go, but I didn't have enough money, so I couldn't)

When I wish and if only are used, they follow the structure of one of these conditionals, depending on what we want to express. If we talk about a regret about a present or future event, then we will use the structure of the second type of conditional and the expressions I wish/if only are followed by past simple:I wish I had enough money to travel to New York. If only I had enough money to travel to New York.(That is, I don't have enough money, and I am sorry for it because I can't go)

If the event we regret happened (or failed to happen) in the past and is, therefore, impossible to change, then we use the third type of conditional structure. This time the expressions I wish/if only are followed by past perfect.

I wish I had had enough money to travel to New York. If only I had had enough money to travel to New York.(That is, I didn't have enough money to travel, so I couldn't go and now I regret it)

1. Complete the senteces using the correct for of the verb.1.If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam. I wish I (study) harder.
2. My friends invited me to a party, but I didn't go. I wish I (go) to the party with them.
3. My car is old but I can't afford a new one. If only I (can) afford a new car.
4. My sister phoned me but I wasn't at home. I wish I (be) in.
5. My dog needs to go for a walk, but I haven't got time right now. If only I (have) more free time.
6. If I want to be promoted, I need to speak a foreign language. I wish I (can) speak French.
7. If I were younger, I would be able to play tennis. If only I (be) younger.
8. If I'd had more children, I wouldn't be so lonely. If only I (have) more children.
9. If I want to go to the cinema, I would need some money. If only I (have) some money.
10. If he had gone out earlier, he wouldn't have missed the flight. He wishes he (go) out earlier.

2.Put the appropiate verb form.1 I wish I ___________________ drunk and kissed Samantha. (get NEGATIVE)
2 I wish it ___________________ so much. The garden's turned to mud. (rain NEGATIVE)
3 If only I ___________________ there, I wouldn't have got a fine. (park NEGATIVE)
4 If only I ___________________ more time for my hobbies. (have)

10 I wish you ___________________ so horrible to your brother. He'd been really nice bloke. (be NEGATIVE)
11 I wish the council ___________________ that beautiful old house. It was part of the town's heritage. (demolish NEGATIVE)
12 If only I ___________________ the money to go to Jon's wedding in The States. (have)
13 I wish I ___________________ her she'd put on weight. She hates me now. (tell NEGATIVE)
15 If only we ___________________ a Hewlett Packard printer. The cartridges are so expensive. (buy NEGATIVE)
3.Write a sentence using wish or If only.1. I ate too much and now I have stomachache.(eat/too much)2. My pupils kept talking in class all the time(take control/of the class)3. I didn't like visiting the museum(go to/the beach)4.Last Christmas I got really drunk and couldn't enjoyed it.(stay sober)5. I forgot to bring my girlfriend flowers for our anniversary. Now,she's really angry with me!(buy/my girlfriend/flowers/for our anniversary)6. I failed all my exams,I think I'm going to spend all the summer studying(study/harder/along this year)7.I took my sister's advice but it didn't work out(not/ask/my sister/for some advice)

8. It's raining! What am I going to do??!! (take/my umbrella)

3. Decide if you are making a wish about an impossible present state (wish + past simple), a past state or action (wish + past perfect), or a present habit or future possibility (wish + would + verb).

Rewrite these sentences with 2-5 words, using the word given in brackets.

She's always noisy. I really don't like it. (MAKE)
I so much noise.

I want my boss to give me a pay rise. (WISH)
I me a pay rise.

I hate travelling so far to my office. (LIVED)
If nearer my house.

I feel bad because I kissed my best friend's girlfriend last night.(WISH)
I my best friend's girlfriend.

You are always borrowing my clothes without permission. Please stop it! (YOU)
I my clothes without asking.

I'm 15 and all my friends go to parties. My parents never let me go to any parties. (LET)
If me go to parties.