This document discusses the different uses of "wish" and "if only" with different tenses to express regret, dissatisfaction, or criticism. It can be used with the past tense to talk about present or future situations, with "would" to complain about current situations, and with the past perfect to express regret about past actions. Examples are provided for each case, as well as exercises for the reader to practice using wish/if only with different verb tenses.

1. I wish / If only
(past / present / future)

2. Bob is at his cousin’s birthday party.
He’s bored.

3. He wishes he were somewhere else.
If only he were somewhere else.

4. WISH / IF ONLY + PAST
We use wish / If only + past to express
dissatisfaction or regret about the
present or future.
For example:
• Bob wishes he were somewhere
else.
• If only he were somewhere else.

5. I wish they
would stop
smoking!
If only they
would let
me eat
peacefully!

6. WISH / IF ONLY + WOULD
We use wish / If only + would +
infinitive to complain about or criticise
a person or a situation.
For example:
• I wish they would stop smoking.
• If only they would let me eat
peacefully.

7. Make sentences about the
following situations, using
wish / If only + past
or
wish / If only + would + infinitive

8. She’s trying to sleep but her husband is
snoring.
I wish... / If only...

9. He is in class. He’s bored.
He wishes... / If only...

10. They are lost.
They wish... / If only...

11. It’s raining and we want it to stop.
We wish... / If only...

12. This is John.
He went to a party yesterday and drank too much.

13. This is John today.
He has a painful hangover...
He wishes he
hadn’t drunk
so many beers
yesterday.
If only he hadn’t
drunk so many
beers yesterday.

14. WISH / IF ONLY +
PAST PERFECT
We use wish / If only + past perfect to
express regret about the past.
For example:
• John wishes he hadn’t drunk so
much yesterday.
• If only he hadn’t drunk so much
yesterday.

15. Make sentences about the
following situations, using
wish / If only + past perfect

16. He went trekking
alone but didn’t
take a map.
He got lost.
He wishes... / If only...

17. She has spent all her money on clothes and
now she’s in debt!
She wishes... / If only...

18. I’m feeling
seasick.
I wish... / If only...

19. I didn’t study for the test.
I wish... / If only...