Use wish or if only plus the past simple for a present unreal wish, as in I wish I spoke French fluently, plus the past perfect for a past regret, as in I wish I had accepted that job offer, and wish plus would plus the base verb for annoyance at someone else’s behavior, as in I wish you would stop interrupting me.
Grammar Rule
Wish and if only express unreal situations, but the verb form changes depending on the time referred to.
Wish / If Only (Full Consolidation): Rules and Examples
| Time | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present unreal | wish/if only + past simple | I wish I spoke French fluently. |
| Past regret | wish/if only + past perfect | I wish I had accepted that job offer three years ago. |
| Annoyance at others | wish + would + base verb | I wish you would stop interrupting me during meetings. |
Remember: wish + past simple (present); wish + past perfect (past regret); wish + would + base verb (annoyance at others).
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below using wish or if only correctly for the time referred to. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
Advanced Wish/If Only
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you form a present unreal wish?
Use wish or if only plus the past simple, as in I wish I spoke French fluently.
How do you form a past regret with wish?
Use wish or if only plus the past perfect, as in I wish I had accepted that job offer three years ago.
How do you express annoyance at someone else’s behavior?
Use wish plus would plus the base verb, as in I wish you would stop interrupting me during meetings.
Can wish + would be used about yourself?
No, it is used to express annoyance about other people’s actions or repeated situations, not about the speaker’s own behavior.