Expressing wishes: ‘I wish’ ‘if only’

After I wish, If only, we’go one tense back.

The past tense refers to the present: I wish I had a better watch.

The past perfect tense refers to the past: If only you had asked me first.

Expressing wishes and regrets with ‘I wish’ and ‘If only’

We ofen use I wish for things that might (still) happen:I wish I knew the answer ( it is possible I might find out the answer)

If only is stonger. We use it to express regret for things that can (now) never happen:

If only your mother were alive now.

We may use the simple past of ‘be’ after ‘wish’ and ‘if only’, especially in everyday speech:

I wish I was on holiday now. If only Tessa were here.

If we want to be more formal, we use ‘were’ in all persons.I wish I had been on holiday last week. If only Tessa had been hereyesterday.

We use the past or past perfect forms of others verbs: I wish I knew the answer to your question. I wish I had know then whatI know now.