This document discusses the use of "wish" and "if only" to express regret about present, past, and future situations. It explains that "wish" or "if only" can be used with the past simple tense to express regret about the present, with the past perfect tense to express regret about the past, and with "would" to complain about current or future behaviors. It also notes that "if only" is less common and more emphatic than "wish".

1. WISH/IF ONLY

2. Wish / If only + past simple
to express a wish or a regret about the present
 I wish you were here! / If only you were here!
I ’ m s o r r y y o u a r e n o t
 I wish I had more free time / If only I had more free time
I ’ m s o r r y I d o n ’ t
Structures with Wish / If only
If only is less common
and more emphatic

3. Wish / If only + past perfect
to express a wish or a regret about the past
 I wish our flight hadn’t been delayed/ If only our flight
hadn’t been delayed
..but it was
 I wish she had come / If only she had come
…but she didn’t
Structures with Wish / If only
If only is less common
and more emphatic

4. Wish / If only + would
to complain about a behaviour you disapprove of or to
express annoyance about a present or future action
 I wish my husband wouldn’t snore/ If only he wouldn’t
snore
...but he does
 I wish it would stop raining / If only it would stop raining
…but it is raining
Structures with Wish / If only
If only is less common
and more emphatic