Wishes

We can use wish/if only to express a wish.

• We use wish/if only + past simple/past continuous to say that we would like something to be different about a present situation.

I wish my tooth didn’t hurt.

• We use wish/if only + cloud + bare infinitive to express which/regret in the present concerning lack of ability.

I wish I cloud design a website.

• We use wish/if only + past perfect to express regret about something which happened or didn’t happen in the past

I wish I had taken a computer course at college. If only I hadn’t lent Ben my iPhone.

• We use wish/if only + subject + would + bare infinitive to express: a polite imperative, a desire for a situation or person’s behaviour to change.

I wish Ann would reply to my emails! If only you wouldn’t borrow my CDs without asking me.