Use of I wish if Only

 Use of wis if Only 

1. WISH / IF ONLY for Present Situations (Unreal Present)

👉 Used when you are unhappy about the present and want it to be different.
👉 Structure: I wish / If only + past simple

Examples

1.      I wish I had more free time.
(But I don’t have.)

2.      If only she were here.
(But she isn’t.)

3.      I wish I knew how to swim.
(But I don’t know.)

4.      If only it were not raining.
(But it is raining.)

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✅ 2. WISH / IF ONLY for Past Situations (Regrets)

👉 Used when you feel regret about something in the past.
👉 Structure: I wish / If only + past perfect

Examples

1.      I wish I had studied harder.
(But I didn’t.)

2.      If only I had woken up earlier.
(But I didn’t wake up early.)

3.      I wish we had not argued yesterday.
(But we did.)

4.      If only I had listened to your advice.
(Regret.)

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✅ 3. WISH / IF ONLY for Future Situations (Unreal Future, Complaints)

👉 Used when you want something to change in the near future, usually showing irritation.
👉 Structure:

• I wish / If only + would + verb

Examples

1.      I wish you would listen to me.
(But you don’t.)

2.      If only it would stop raining.
(Hope for future change.)

3.      I wish they would come on time.
(They are always late.)

4.      If only my phone would work properly.
(Complaint.)

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✅ 4. Wish about Ability

👉 Structure: I wish I could + verb

Examples

1.      I wish I could speak Japanese.

2.      If only I could play the guitar.

3.      I wish I could drive.

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✅ 5. Wish about Permission

👉 Structure: I wish I could + verb

Examples

1.      I wish I could go to the party.

2.      I wish I could stay out late.

3.      If only I could visit you.

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✅ 6. Wish about Someone’s Behaviour

👉 Structure: I wish / If only + would + verb

Examples

1.      I wish he would stop shouting.

2.      If only she would reply to my messages.

3.      I wish they would stop fighting.

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✅ 7. Wish with “I wish + would” (when we want change)

Not used for your own actions because you control them.

Correct:
✔️ I wish it would rain.

Incorrect:
❌ I wish I would study harder.
Say:
✔️ I wish I studied harder.

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⭐ Final Summary Chart

Situation	Structure	Example
Present unreal	Wish + past simple	I wish I had a car.
Past regret	Wish + past perfect	I wish I had not lied.
Future desire/complaint	Wish + would	I wish it would stop.
Ability	Wish + could	I wish I could dance.
Behaviour change	Wish + would	I wish he would help.

 

PART A: Fill in the Blanks (1–10)

Complete using I wish / If only + correct verb form.

1. I wish I ______ (be) taller.

Answer: were
Reason: Present unreal → past simple.

2. If only she ______ (listen) to me yesterday.

Answer: had listened
Reason: Past regret → past perfect.

3. I wish it ______ (not/rain) right now.

Answer: weren’t raining
Reason: Present situation → past continuous.

4. If only they ______ (arrive) on time tomorrow.

Answer: would arrive
Reason: Future desire/complaint → would + verb.

5. I wish I ______ (can) go with you.

Answer: could
Reason: Wish about ability → wish + could.

6. If only I ______ (study) harder for the exam.

Answer: had studied
Reason: Past regret.

7. I wish he ______ (stop) shouting.

Answer: would stop
Reason: Behaviour change.

8. If only my phone ______ (work) properly.

Answer: would work
Reason: Complaint.

9. I wish I ______ (know) the answer.

Answer: knew
Reason: Present unreal.

10. If only we ______ (not/spend) all our money last week.

Answer: had not spent
Reason: Past regret.

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✅ PART B: Multiple Choice Questions (11–20)

Choose the correct option.

11. I wish I ___ the truth earlier.

a) know
b) knew
c) had known
Answer: c
Reason: Past regret.

12. If only it ___ snowing.

a) stops
b) would stop
c) had stopped
Answer: b
Reason: Future desire.

13. I wish I ___ drive a car.

a) can
b) could
c) would
Answer: b
Reason: Ability.

14. If only he ___ here now.

a) is
b) was
c) were
Answer: c
Reason: Unreal present → “were”.

15. I wish she ___ so much noise.

a) doesn’t make
b) didn’t make
c) wouldn’t make
Answer: c
Reason: Behaviour change.

16. If only I ___ my wallet at home!

a) hadn’t left
b) didn’t leave
c) wouldn’t leave
Answer: a
Reason: Past regret.

17. I wish it ___ so hot today.

a) isn’t
b) wasn’t
c) hasn’t been
Answer: b
Reason: Present unreal.

18. If only you ___ more carefully.

a) drive
b) drove
c) had driven
Answer: b or c depending on meaning

• b = present advice
• c = past regret
  (Most likely: b)

19. I wish he ___ his homework.

a) would do
b) does
c) did
Answer: a
Reason: Behaviour change.

20. If only I ___ the bus!

a) catch
b) caught
c) had caught
Answer: c
Reason: Past regret.

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✅ PART C: Sentence Transformation (21–30)

Rewrite each using I wish / If only.

21. I don’t have enough money.

→ I wish I had enough money.

22. She didn’t call me.

→ I wish she had called me.

23. It is very hot today.

→ I wish it weren’t so hot today.

24. They always argue.

→ I wish they would stop arguing.

25. I cannot swim.

→ I wish I could swim.

26. I arrived late.

→ I wish I had arrived earlier.

27. He never helps me.

→ If only he would help me.

28. I made a mistake.

→ I wish I had not made a mistake.

29. She is not here.

→ If only she were here.

30. My computer is very slow.

→ I wish my computer would work faster.

PART A: Fill in the Blanks (1–20)

Use I wish / If only + correct verb form.

1. I wish I ______ (have) a bicycle.

→ had

2. If only he ______ (not/be) so rude.

→ weren’t

3. I wish the teacher ______ (give) us less homework.

→ would give

4. If only I ______ (not/forget) my keys yesterday.

→ had not forgotten

5. I wish I ______ (can) travel abroad this year.

→ could

6. If only the weather ______ (be) better today.

→ were

7. I wish my phone battery ______ (last) longer.

→ would last

8. If only they ______ (not/make) so much noise.

→ would not make

9. I wish I ______ (know) the answer in the exam.

→ had known

10. If only she ______ (help) me more often.

→ would help

11. I wish I ______ (have) enough time.

→ had

12. If only we ______ (leave) earlier this morning.

→ had left

13. I wish I ______ (be) good at mathematics.

→ were

14. If only he ______ (stop) smoking.

→ would stop

15. I wish my room ______ (be) bigger.

→ were

16. If only she ______ (listen) to my advice last week.

→ had listened

17. I wish I ______ (not/spend) all my money.

→ had not spent

18. If only the bus ______ (come) on time.

→ would come

19. I wish I ______ (speak) English fluently.

→ could speak

20. If only I ______ (meet) you earlier in life.

→ had met

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🔵 PART B: Multiple Choice Questions (21–35)

Choose the correct option.

21. I wish I ___ how to cook.

a) know b) knew c) had known
→ b

22. If only he ___ so lazy.

a) isn't b) wasn't c) hadn't been
→ b

23. I wish it ___ tomorrow.

a) won't rain b) wouldn't rain c) didn't rain
→ b

24. If only they ___ us yesterday.

a) visited b) had visited c) would visit
→ b

25. I wish he ___ me.

a) help b) helps c) would help
→ c

26. If only I ___ my phone at home.

a) hadn't left b) didn't leave c) wouldn't leave
→ a

27. I wish my internet ___ faster.

a) was b) were c) would be
→ c

28. If only you ___ more patient.

a) are b) were c) had been
→ b

29. I wish I ___ you earlier.

a) met b) had met c) would meet
→ b

30. If only she ___ the truth.

a) knows b) knew c) had known
→ b (present unreal)

31. I wish it ___ snowing.

a) stops b) stopped c) would stop
→ c

32. If only my parents ___ here now.

a) are b) were c) had been
→ b

33. I wish I ___ more confident.

a) am b) was c) were
→ c (formal/unreal)

34. If only he ___ for the exam!

a) studies b) studied c) had studied
→ c

35. I wish my brother ___ arguing with me.

a) stops b) stopped c) would stop
→ c

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🔵 PART C: Error Correction (36–43)

Find the error and correct the sentence.

36. I wish I will pass the exam.

❌ will pass
✔️ I wish I passed the exam.

37. If only she would be here now.

❌ would be
✔️ If only she were here now.

38. I wish I would study harder.

❌ You can’t use would for yourself.
✔️ I wish I studied harder.

39. If only he listens to me.

❌ listens
✔️ If only he would listen to me.

40. I wish I have more time.

❌ have
✔️ I wish I had more time.

41. If only they didn’t be late.

❌ didn't be
✔️ If only they weren’t late.

42. I wish it wasn’t rained.

❌ wasn’t rained
✔️ I wish it weren’t raining.

43. If only I would not made this mistake.

❌ would not made
✔️ If only I had not made this mistake.

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🔵 PART D: Sentence Transformation (44–50)

Rewrite using I wish / If only.

44. I don’t understand this chapter.

→ I wish I understood this chapter.

45. She arrived late.

→ If only she had arrived earlier.

46. They always disturb me.

→ I wish they would stop disturbing me.

47. I am not good at drawing.

→ I wish I were good at drawing.

48. He didn’t help me yesterday.

→ I wish he had helped me yesterday.

49. My laptop works very slowly.

→ I wish my laptop would work faster.

50. I missed the train.

→ If only I had not missed the train.