B2 grammar about expressing the wishes

Hypothetical situations

A

What is the difference between Wish and if only

Wish or if only can express how we would like things to be different if we had the power to change them.

1

Wish and if only for Present states

We use wish/if only + past simple to express wishes about present slates.

Stative verbs such as be, have, know and understand are used,

I wish I was/were taller.

If only I knew how to play the guitar:

2

Wish and if only for Present actions

We use wish/ if only + would when we want something to happen or someone to do something.

Active verbs (verbs describing actions) are used.

I wish you would turn your music down. If only this wind would stop blowing.

Wish/ if only + would is used if we want to express irritation at other peoples' actions or behaviour.

I wish you would stop tapping your foot.

Wish/if only + past simple can also be used if the action occurs habitually.

I wish you didn't (or wouldn't) smoke so much,

3

Wish and if only for Present ability

Wish/If only + would is used for events which are outside of our control. Consequently, we do not normally say 'I wish I would .. .'. Instead, we use 'I wish I could .. .' to indicate our inability to change things.

I wish I could remember where I put my keys.

4

Wishes for the future

wish/if only + would or could can be used to express wishes for the future. This use of wish suggests that the action will probably not happen.

I wish I could go on holiday with yon in summer. (I know that I can't go with you).

If there is more possibility that the action will happen, we use hope.

I hope I can go on holiday with you in summer: (I don't know if I can or not).

5

Wish and if only for Past situations

We use wish/ if only + past perfect to express wishes and regrets about the past.

I wish I hadn't left school when I was 16.

The following structures can also be used to express wishes and regrets about the past.

a

Third and mixed conditionals to express wishes and regrets about the past

If I hadn’t been so tired, this wouldn’t have happened.

b

should have + past participle to express wishes and regrets about the past

We should have got the train. This traffic's terrible.

B

Would rather to express wishes and regrets about the past

We use would rather+ past simple when we want someone else to do something in the present or future.

I'd rather you went to get some bread now.

He said he'd rather we didn't arrive too early tomorrow.

If the subject of would rather and the following verb is the same, we usually use the infinitive without to.

We'd rather sit in the garden than go to the beach.

C

It's time when we want something to happen or be done now

We use its (high/about) time + past simple when we want something to happen or be done now. It implies that the action should have been done already.

It's time you went to bed. You've got school tomorrow.

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