Lesson: Wish and If Only – Expressing Desires and Regrets
Welcome to another exciting ride with EngDrive! In this lesson, we’ll explore how to use wish and if only to express dreams, regrets, and unreal situations. These expressions add depth to your English and make your communication more heartfelt and expressive.

1. Using Wish and If Only
Both wish and if only are used to talk about things we want to be different, either in the present, past, or future.
- Wish: Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.
- If only: More emphatic and emotional. It shows stronger feelings like regret or longing.
2. Types of Wishes
a) Wishes About the Present
- We use the past simple or past continuous to talk about present situations we wish were different.
Structure:
wish/if only + subject + past simple/past continuous
Examples:
- “I wish I were taller.” (But I am not taller now.)
- “If only it were sunny today!” (But it’s raining now.)
💡 Note: We use were instead of was for all subjects in formal English.
b) Wishes About the Past
- We use the past perfect to talk about regrets about the past.
Structure:
wish/if only + subject + past perfect
Examples:
- I wish I had studied harder for the exam. (I didn’t study, and now I regret it.)
- If only we had arrived earlier, we could have caught the train. (We arrived late and missed the train.)
c) Wishes About the Future
- We use would or could to express desires about future changes or events.
Structure:
wish/if only + subject + would/could
Examples:
- I wish you would call me tomorrow. (I want you to call me, but I’m not sure if you will.)
- If only they would stop arguing! (I hope they stop, but they haven’t yet.)
3. Key Differences Between Wish and If Only
Expression | Use | Emotion |
---|---|---|
Wish | Neutral (polite or formal use) | Moderate feelings |
If Only | Strong emphasis or longing | Strong regret or desire |
4. Common Errors to Avoid
- Using will instead of would:
❌ I wish he will help me.
✅ I wish he would help me. - Forgetting to use the past tense for present wishes:
❌ I wish I am rich.
✅ I wish I were rich. - Mixing tenses incorrectly for past regrets:
❌ I wish I studied more.
✅ I wish I had studied more.
6. Conclusion
Using wish and if only adds emotion and depth to your sentences, helping you express yourself more naturally. Practice using them in conversations, and you’ll soon master this skill. Keep driving forward with EngDrive—your journey to fluency is just beginning!