Wish / If only ...

Wish / If only + past simple

• We use wish or If only when we are unhappy with a past situation and would like it to be different.

• We use wish or If only when we are unhappy with a present situation and would like it to be different.

• We use wish or If only when we are unhappy with a future situation and would like it to be different.

Wish/If only + would

• We use this when we want someone to do something or to stop doing something annoying now or in the future but it is unlikely.

• We use this when we want someone to do something or to stop doing something annoying in the past but it is unlikely.

• We use this when we want someone to do something or to stop doing something we enjoy now or in the future but it is unlikely.

Wish/If only + past perfect

• When we want to express happiness about the past.

• When we want to express regret about the past.

• When we want to give advice about past events.

1 My sister’s very nice but I wish she _____________ take so long getting ready in the morning.

• won't

• will

• wouldn't

• couldn't

1 If only we ______________ the sign. We wouldn’t have got into so much trouble.

• had seen

• seen

• saw

• see

1 I wish I ____________________ how this machine works.

• will understand

• would understood

• would understand

• understood

1 I worry about his health. If only he ______________ smoking.

• would stop

• stopped

• continued

• will stop

1 I wish we ________________ in contact but I don’t know where he lives now.

• would have kept

• kept

• keep

• had kept

1 I wish we _________________ live so far from the sea. I’d love to wake up to the sound of the waves.

• wouldn't

• did

• didn't

• couldn't

1 If only we ________________ to go home now.

• would have

• hadn't to go

• hadn't had

• didn't have