Wish & If Only
Express what you wish were different — an unreal present, a past regret, or a desire for someone or something to change — with the grammar that lives in the subjunctive mood.
Choose a subject. A time. A form.
Five subjects, three time references, two forms — 30 combinations. Watch how the tense inside the wish clause steps one level back from reality each time.
Got the pattern? Jump to the practice →
The rules — with examples
Three time references, one key principle: the tense inside the wish clause steps one level back from reality.
Three structures
If only she lived closer.
I wish it were summer already.
If only we had left earlier.
She wishes she hadn’t said that.
If only the rain would stop.
She wishes he would call more often.
Were, not was: in formal English (and in all exam writing), use were for all persons after wish / if only: I wish I were taller. She wishes she were here. In informal spoken English, was is widely accepted, but were is always safe.
Wish vs. if only
What the tense tells you
Common mistake — present tense after wish: I wish I know the answer is wrong. The verb inside the wish clause must step one level back: I wish I knew. Similarly: I wish it stopped (not stops); I wish they had arrived (not arrived for a past regret).
Practise & score yourself
Ten questions — five multiple choice, five gap-fill.
The one rule to remember
The tense after wish / if only always steps one tense back from reality: present reality → past simple; past reality → past perfect; desired change → would. If only means exactly the same as wish — just with stronger emotion. And in formal English, always use were, never was, after wish / if only.