Wish and If Only Exercises
Do more with this exercise
Talk about a different present
Use wish or if only with a past form to imagine that a present situation were different. Use could for an ability you lack, and would for a change you want someone or something to make.
- Present situation:
- I wish I lived closer. I do not live close now. After wish, use a past form for this unreal present.
- If only:
- If only I had more time! means nearly the same as I wish I had more time, often with a stronger feeling.
- Ability:
- I wish I could swim. Could describes an ability I do not have now.
- A change you want:
- I wish the neighbours would turn down the music. Would expresses a desired change in someone else's behaviour.
- Be:
- I wish I were taller is common in careful English; was is also heard in informal speech. This lesson uses were in its practice items.
Examples
I wish I had more time to read.
I do not have enough time now
If only we lived closer to the station!
an unreal present situation with stronger feeling
She wishes she could drive.
she cannot drive now
I wish the bus would come soon.
I want the situation to change
He wishes he were taller.
were is the careful form for an unreal present
Audio uses a synthetic voice.
Practice exercises
Choose the wish form
Choose the form that matches the meaning of the whole sentence.
1.I don't have a bicycle. I wish I ___ one.
2.She can't speak French. She wishes she ___ speak it.
3.The dog keeps barking at night. I wish it ___ barking.
4.We live far from our friends. If only we ___ nearer!
5.I am not very tall. In careful English: I wish I ___ taller.
6.The train is late again. If only it ___ on time for once!
Complete the wishes
Use the form in the hint. Type only the missing words.
Fix wish and if only
Replace the incorrect verb phrase with the correct form. Keep the rest of the sentence.
13.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
14.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
15.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
16.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
17.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
18.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
Using wish and if only for present regrets
Wish and if only help us describe the present as we would like it to be. The grammar uses a past form even though the meaning is about now. “I wish I had a car” means I do not have one. “If only I lived nearer” means I do not live near the place. If only often adds a stronger feeling.
For ability, use could: “I wish I could speak French.” For a change you want in someone else's behaviour, use would: “I wish the neighbours would be quieter.” This form can also describe a change in a situation, such as rain stopping or a bus coming.
Before you answer, decide whether the sentence describes a present fact, a missing ability or a change you want. Then choose the matching form. In this lesson, *were* is used for unreal wishes with *be*; you may also hear *was* in informal speech.
Frequently asked questions
Why is a past form used after wish for the present?
The past form marks a situation as unreal or different from the present: “I wish I had more time” means I do not have enough now.
Is if only the same as wish?
They often express the same unreal idea. If only can sound stronger or more emotional: “If only I lived closer!”
When should I use could after wish?
Use could for an ability or possibility you do not have now: “I wish I could drive.”
When should I use would after wish?
Use would when you want another person or a situation to change: “I wish the noise would stop.” It is not the usual form for your own ability.
Answer key
1. I don't have a bicycle. I wish I ___ one.
Answer: had
For an unreal present situation, use a past form after wish: had.
2. She can't speak French. She wishes she ___ speak it.
Answer: could
Could expresses the ability she lacks now.
3. The dog keeps barking at night. I wish it ___ barking.
Answer: would stop
Would stop expresses a change in behaviour that I want.
4. We live far from our friends. If only we ___ nearer!
Answer: lived
If only + past form imagines a different present situation.
5. I am not very tall. In careful English: I wish I ___ taller.
Answer: were
Were is the careful form of be for this unreal present wish.
6. The train is late again. If only it ___ on time for once!
Answer: would arrive
Would arrive expresses the change in the train's behaviour that the speaker wants.
7. I wish I ___ a larger desk. My books do not fit.
Answer: had
The desk is small now; wish uses the past form had.
8. If only we ___ closer to the park!
Answer: lived
Use the past form lived for a different present situation.
9. He wishes he ___ play the piano, but he has never learned.
Answer: could
Could describes the ability he lacks now.
10. I wish the neighbours ___ the music down tonight.
Answer: would turn
Use would for a change in another person's behaviour.
11. She wishes she ___ more confident at work.
Answer: were
For an unreal present wish, the careful form is were.
12. If only this rain ___ soon! We want to go out.
Answer: would stop
Would stop expresses the change the speaker wants.
13. I wish I have more free time now.
Answer: I wish I had more free time now.
For an unreal present situation, use the past form had.
14. She wishes she can swim, but she does not know how.
Answer: She wishes she could swim, but she does not know how.
Use could for an ability she lacks.
15. If only we live nearer the station! We are so far away.
Answer: If only we lived nearer the station! We are so far away.
An unreal present situation after if only takes a past form.
16. I wish the bus will come soon; I have been waiting for an hour.
Answer: I wish the bus would come soon; I have been waiting for an hour.
Use would for a desired change in the situation.
17. I wish I could to play the guitar.
Answer: I wish I could play the guitar.
A modal verb takes a base verb without to: could play.
18. He wishes he would can drive, but he has not learned yet.
Answer: He wishes he could drive, but he has not learned yet.
For an ability he lacks, use could, not two modals together.