Wish

You can use “wish” to talk about the future (with a similar meaning to “want”) like this:

• I wish to make a complaint.

However, this isn’t very common in spoken English – it sounds very formal. It’s more normal to use “wish” to talk about imaginary situations .

If Only

We can make second and third conditionals (more emphatic)  by placing only after if:

• If (only) I knew the answer, I’d tell you.
• If (only) I had revised more, I would have done better on my exam.

If only can be replaced with I wish, and the main clause can be omitted:

• I wish I knew the answer.
• I wish I had revised more.

Patterns introduced with I wish… are used to express wishes about the present, past and future.

Wishes about the present

wish / if only + past subjunctive

This rule is used to express wishes or regrets about the present:

I live in a small flat. I wish I lived in a castle!

• I wish I lived nearer. Then we could meet more often. (I’m sorry that I don’t live nearer)
• Cathy wishes she had blond hair. (Cathy is sorry that she doesn’t have blond hair)

Instead of the past subjunctive, we can use could + infinitive:

You’re brilliant. I wish I could play the guitar like you. (I’m sorry that I can’t play the guitar like you)

 Wishes about the past

wish / if only + past perfect subjunctive

This pattern is used to express wishes or regrets about the past:

I wish I had bought a bigger house.

• I wish I had never told him my secret. (I’m sorry that I told him my secret)
• Santiago wishes he hadn’t spent so much money last night. (Santiago regrets spending so much money last night)

Instead of the past perfect subjunctive, we can use could + perfect infinitive:

• If only I could have been there. I’m sure it was a great concert. (I’m sorry that I couldn’t be there)

If Only & Wish :

We can use if only  exactly the same way as I wish.

For example:  If only I lived in a castle!

We can also use supposing/ suppose and imagine :

• Suppose I lived in a castle! That would be wonderful!
• Imagine I had bought a bigger house. I wouldn’t have any money now!

Wishes about the future

wish / if only + would

This rule is used for wishes about the future when there is a chance that something may happen or somebody (but not the person who wishes) may change their behaviour:

• I wish it would stop snowing.
• I wish Mark would call me back.
• I wish more people would read my blog.

Wish + would can also express not-so-polite requests or complaints:

• I wish you wouldn’t smoke in here.