WISH  -  IF -   IF ONLY

  WISH   

• To express a regret about the present, we use wish + the past simple :
  • I don't play the piano.  I wish I played the piano.
    
  • Pedro doesn't speak English.  Pedro wishes he spoke English.
  • Hugo doesn't have a car. He wishes he had a car.

• To express a regret about the past, we use wish + the past perfect :
  • Julie lost her umbrella yesterday.  Julie wishes she hadn't lost her umbrella.
    
  • Alex didn't revise his grammar.  Alex wishes he had revised his grammar.
  • The hotel was full. Tom wished he had booked a room.

• When 'wish' if followed by the verb 'to be',  'were'  is used instead of 'was':
  
  • I don't have a lot of money.  I wish I were (not was) rich. 
    
  • I'm not very tall. I wish I were taller.
  • I'm not very strong. I wish I were stronger.

• To express a desire to change something, we use wish + would or could.
  A ‘wish' + ‘that’ clause is used to express a desire for change, but we generally omit ‘that' :
  • The children are making a lot of noise. I wish (that) they would stop making noise.
  • The weather is awful. I wish the weather would improve.
  • It's so hot today! I wish it would rain.
  • The cinema is old-fashioned. I wish the owners would renovate it.
  • I wish you would stop calling me at the office.
  • I wish you wouldn't take my hairdryer without asking me.
  • My job is totally boring. I wish I could find a better one.
  • My colleague is in trouble. I wish I could help him/her.
    
    
  When you regret something and would like it to be different: wish + didn't
  
  • I wish you didn't live so far away.
  • I wish you didn't work such long hours.
  • I wish you didn't have to travel alone.
    
    
  When you would prefer if someone hadn't done something: wish + hadn't
  • I wish you hadn't thrown out all my old clothes.
  • I wish you hadn't told Sam about the party.
  • I wish you hadn't made that appointment for me.

• In a formal situation 'wish' can replace 'want'
  • I wish to see the director. I have a complaint to make.

• Wish + indirect object + direct object (wish someone something)
  We use this structure to express good wishes or hope that something good will happen to someone.
  • Tom is taking a flight home. I wish him a safe journey.
  • One of our colleagues is ill. We wish her a speedy recovery.
  • It’s my parents wedding anniversary. I wish them a happy anniversary.

   IF ONLY  

• :‘I wish’ can be replaced with ‘if only’ which carries more emphasis.
  • “If only you had told me in time!’ = “I wish you had told me in time.”
  • "If only I'd studied harder at school." = "I wish I had studied harder."
  • "If only you didn't live so far away!" = "I wish you didn't live so far away."
  • "If only I had taken that job!" = "I wish I had taken the job."
  • "If only I hadn't sent them an invitation!" = "I wish I hadn't sent them an invitation."
  • "If only you had warned me!" = "I wish you had warned me."

   IF  

• 'If' is used in conditional structures:
  
  • If I worked in Paris, my French would improve.
  • If I had enough money, I would buy a car.
  • If I lived closer to our offices, I could walk to work.
    
    
• After if, we use were instead of was to talk about something hypothetical or something that you would like to be true (wishful thinking), especially in a formal style where it is considered more correct.
  (The same applies to other pronouns: ‘she’, ‘he’, and ‘it’.)
  • If I were rich, I would travel all over the world. (but I'm not rich)
  • If I were taller, I would be accepted on the basketball team. (but I'm not tall enough)
  • If I were old enough, I could drive drive a car. (but I'm not old enough)
    
    
• We use the structure "if I were you " + would to give advice.
  • If I were you I would take English lessons.
  • I wouldn't worry about his remark if I were you.
  • If I were you I'd do as your parents suggest.
  • If I were you I'd accept the offer.