We use "I wish" and "If only" with the past simple tense to express regret about the present, such as wishing one could play the saxophone or wishing for a ride to school in the rain. We use "I wish" and "If only" with the past perfect tense to express regret about the past, like wishing one hadn't spent so much money or hadn't saved pocket money for a party.

1. We useWe use I wishI wish andand If only withIf only with thethe Past simplePast simple tense to express atense to express a
regret about the presentregret about the present (you feel sorry about something now):(you feel sorry about something now):
•II wishwish I couldcould play the saxophone. I love its sound.
•If If onlyonly youyou drovedrove me to scool today. It´s raining very hard.me to scool today. It´s raining very hard.
We useWe use I wishI wish andand If onlyIf only withwith thethe Past perfectPast perfect tense to express atense to express a
regret about the pastregret about the past (you feel sorry about something you did):(you feel sorry about something you did):
•MaryMary wisheswishes she hadn´t spenthadn´t spent so much money. Now she´s broke
•If If onlyonly wewe had savedhad saved our pocket money. Now we could have a greatour pocket money. Now we could have a great
party.party.
I WISH / IF ONLYI WISH / IF ONLY