“Wish” / “if only”

When you use wish for something you want to be different from reality, the verb after wish moves one tense back: a present situation → past simple, a past event → past perfect. To want someone or something to change, use would.

If only works just like I wish, with the same tenses, but it is more emotional — often an exclamation: If only I had more time! In speech, an If only… sentence often stands alone.

💡In many languages the verb after “I wish” stays in the present, so learners say “I wish I can…”, “I wish I have…”. Remember: for a wish about now, the verb after wish is never in the present tense — can → could, have → had, am/is → were.

The verb is in the past but the meaning is present. With be, use were for every person (in speech, was is common with I / he / she / it). For “I wish I were able to”, use could.

• I wish I lived closer to my office.

  but I live far away

• I wish I didn't have to get up so early.

• Huy wishes he were taller.

  in speech also: he was taller

• If only I could speak Korean!

• I wish it weren't so hot today.

To regret something that happened or didn't happen, use wish / if only + had + V3. To regret that you weren't able to do something, use wish + could have + V3.

• I wish I hadn't eaten that last piece of cake.

  but I did eat it

• If only we'd left ten minutes earlier!

• Do you ever wish you had studied something different?

• I wish I could have come to your wedding.

  I wasn't able to come

wish + person / thing + would + verb means you want that person (or the situation) to change or do something, but it probably won't. It is very often a complaint; I wish you wouldn't… = complaining about the other person's habit.

• I wish it would stop raining.

• I wish my roommate wouldn't leave dirty dishes in the sink.

  a complaint

• I wish you'd listen to me for once.

• If only the traffic would move!

• We don't normally say “I wish I would…” — about yourself, use I wish I could… or I wish I + past.
• would is for actions and changes; for states (be, have, know) use the past: I wish you were here (not: would be here).

hope is for things that could really happen, so it takes a normal tense (present or will). wish is for things that are not true or didn't happen. Also, wish + person + noun is a way of wishing someone well, and wish to + verb is a very formal way to say want to.

• We wish you all the best in your new job.

  wish + person + noun

• I wish to speak to the manager, please.

  very formal = I would like to

• ✗I wish I can speak Japanese.

  ✓I wish I could speak Japanese.

  A wish about now → can becomes could.

• ✗I wish I have more time.

  ✓I wish I had more time.

  After wish (about now), use the past.

• ✗I wish I went to the concert last night.

  ✓I wish I had gone to the concert last night.

  A regret about the past → had + V3.

• ✗I wish I would be rich.

  ✓I wish I were rich.

  A state of your own → were, not would.

• ✗I wish it stops raining.

  ✓I wish it would stop raining.

  Wanting the situation to change → wish … would.

• ✗I wish you have a good trip.

  ✓I hope you have a good trip. / I wish you a good trip.

  For something possible use hope; wish only takes person + noun here.