Wishes

Wish / If only

PRESENT / FUTURE

I wish (that) / If only + subject + simple past

1. We talk about something that we wish to be different at the moment or in the future (it's used for things which are impossible or very unlikely).

• I wish that I had a big house (I don't have a big house, but it's a nice idea!).
• I wish that we didn't need to work today (we do need to work today, unfortunately).
• I wish that you lived close by (you don't live close by).
• I wish that John wasn't busy tomorrow (he is busy, unfortunately).

 2. To wish that something...

a)...could be true at the moment

 

• I wish I had a pony
• I wish I was rich
• I wish you were here
• I wish I knew the truth

(when using the verb be you can use were for all persons)

• I wish I were rich.            
• If only I were rich.
• I wish my hair were longer!       I
• If only he was taller!

I wish (that) / If only + subject + past / continuous

b)...was happening at the moment

 

• If only this traffic was/were moving!
• I wish this traffic was/were moving!
• I wish I was lying on the beach right now!           
• If only I was lying on the beach right now!

I wish (that) / If only + subject + could + bare infinitive

c) To wish for an ability at the moment...

• I wish that I could sing.
• If only I could come to Australia too!

αλλά: If only you would come to Australia with me (would αντί could όταν η ικανότητα για την οποία ευχόμαστε αφορά άλλον)

• I wish I could play the guitar!       
• If only I could dance like that!    

...or ability in the future:

• I wish I could go to your wedding next week (but I can’t).
• If only I could see my grandmother more often (but I can’t).
• I wish I could go to the party this evening...(but I can't).

would + present bare infinitive

d) complaining about sb else's behaviour and want to change soon

• I wish you wouldn't argue with your brother
• If only you wouldn't argue with my brother
• I wish you wouldn't arrive so late.

* Η αλλαγή αφορά άλλα πρόσωπα ή καταστάσεις πέρα από εμάς οπότε δεν χρησιμοποιούμε αυτόν τον τύπο για τον εαυτό μας. Αντίθετα όταν θέλουμε να αναφερθούμε στον εαυτό μας μετά τα I και We χρησιμοποιούμε could και όχι would.

 


PAST

2. Regret: To wish that something in the past had happened in a different way (unreal past)

 

 

I wish (that) / If only + past perfect 

         

I wish I had studied for my exam!             

If only you hadn’t argued with the teacher!

 

f) To wish that something kept happening again and again, or to wish it could stop happening:



I wish (that) / If only + subject + wouldn’t keep +  ing form

• I wish you wouldn’t keep shouting me.
• If only it wouldn't keep raining.

I wish (that) / If only + subject + would stop + verb-ing

• I wish he would stop shouting.
• I wish that it would stop raining.

 NOTE 1
Hope

NOTE 2
Hope VS Wish