If Only and I wish

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

If Only and I wish

Expressing a wish or a regret 

Use of I wish / if only:

There are three distinct types of I wish / if only sentences:

1. Wish, wanting change for the present or future with the simple past.

2. Regret with the past perfect.

3. Complaints with would + verb.

Expressing a wish:

Form:

If only / I wish + simple past

Example:

If only I knew how to use a computer. (I don’t know how to use a computer and I would like to learn how to use it)

Use:

• To express a wish in the present or in the future.

• The simple past here is an unreal past.

• When you use the verb to be the form is “were”.

Example:

I wish I were a millionaire!

Expressing regret:

Form:

If only / I wish + past perfect

Example:

If only I had woken up early. (I didn't wake up early and I missed my bus.)

Use:

• To express a regret.

• The action is past.

Complaining:

Form:

I wish / if only + would + verb

Example:

I wish you wouldn't arrive so late all the time (I'm annoyed because you always come late and I want you to arrive on time)

Use:

• To complain about a behaviour that you disapprove.

• Expressing impatience, annoyance or dissatisfaction with a present action.

exercise 1

Decide whether these statements express a "wish" or a "regret":

1. I wish I could fly.

2. If only she had seen the doctor earlier. He could have saved her.

3. If only I traveled to New York.

4. I wish I were a doctor.

key

1. I wish I could fly. Wish

2. If only she had seen the doctor earlier. He could have saved her. Regret

3. If only I traveled to New York. Wish

4. I wish I were a doctor. Wish

exercise 2

1. Alice didn't get a good grade. She wishes she  ...(work) harder.

2. Tom likes football very much. He wishes he ... (become) a professional football player.

3. He was running very fast when he had a heart attack. If only he  ...(not/run) so fast.

4. She's keen on computers. She wishes she ...(study) computer science next school year.

5. I am sorry I don’t know how to use the computer. If only I  ...(know) how to use it.

6. I stayed late at work and missed the last bus. I wish I  ...(stay) at work late

key

1. Alice didn't get a good grade. She wishes she had worked harder

2. Tom likes football very much. He wishes he  became a professional football player.

3. He was running very fast when he had a heart attack. If only he  hadn't run so fast.

4. She's keen on computers. She wishes she studied computer science next school year.

5. I am sorry I don’t know how to use the computer.I f only I knew how to use it.

6. I stayed late at work and missed the last bus. I wish I had not stayed at work late.

exercise 3

1. I wish I ... (talk) to him yesterday.

2. I need help badly. If only you .... (can) help me.

3. My old car often breaks down. I wish I .... (buy) a new car.

4. He didn't pass the exam. If only he ... (work) hard.

5. She was absent. I wish she  ... (attend) the conference.

6. What a beautiful house! I wish I .... (have) a house like this one.

7. I wish I .... (be) rich. I would buy a farm and enjoy the calm of the countryside.

8. They had that bad accident because they were careless. If only they .... (be) more careful.

9. We saw the film. I wish you .... (see) it with us. It was an amazing evening.

10. I like traveling around the world. If only I .... (have) time to realize my dream.

key

1. I wish I had talked to him yesterday.

2. I need help badly. If only you could help me.

3. My old car often breaks down. I wish I had bought a new car.

4. He didn't pass the exam. If only he had worked hard.

5. She was absent. I wish she had attended the conference.

6. What a beautiful house! I wish I had a house like this one.

7. I wish I was / were rich. I would buy a farm and enjoy the calm of the countryside.

8. They had that bad accident because they were careless. If only they had been more careful.

9. We saw the film. I wish you had seen it with us. It was an amazing evening.

10. I like traveling around the world. If only I had time to realize my dream.