Wish and if only talk about things you want to be different. The verb moves one step into the past: a past form for the present, and a past perfect for the past.
| About | Verb form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Now (a situation you want different) | past simple | I wish I earned more money. |
| The past (a regret) | past perfect | I wish I had learned to drive. |
| Change or annoyance | would / wouldn't | I wish the bus would come. |
The past form does not mean the past. It shows a distance from reality, like in The second conditional: unreal situations now or in the future.
If only has the same patterns and is stronger or more emotional. If only I knew his address.
With the verb be, were is the traditional form for every person, and was is also possible.
Could can mean ability: I wish I could dance.
Use wish + would for a change you want from another person or thing, often because you are annoyed. For a wish about yourself, the natural choice is the past simple or could.
Hope and wish + would can both be about the future. Hope means you want something and think it may happen. Wish + would shows you want a change from another person or thing, often because you are annoyed or doubtful.
✗I wish I have my own flat.
✓I wish I had my own flat.
For a wish about now, use the past simple.
✗I wish I studied harder. (about last year)
✓I wish I had studied harder.
For a regret about the past, use the past perfect.
✗I wish you stop talking.
✓I wish you would stop talking.
For a wish for change, use would + base verb.
✗I wish I can swim.
✓I wish I could swim.
For an ability you want now, use wish + could.
See The second conditional: unreal situations now or in the future, The third conditional: unreal past situations, Unreal time: it's high time, would rather and as if and Would: forms, wishes, requests and past meanings.
Eight questions. Choose one answer for each.