Elevate your English by learning how to express wishes and regrets. Have a look at the following structures:
- Wish/if only+past simple: used when expressing wishes/regrets about something in the present
Examples:
I wish she didn’t make so much noise.
If only my dog didn’t bark so much.
2. Wish/if only+would: used to talk about annoying things in the present that we would like to change
Examples:
I wish you would stop singing.
If only you would stay quiet.
3. Wish/if only + past perfect: used when expressing wishes/regrets about the past events/situations
Examples:
I wish I had bought a car last year.
If only she had studied harder last semester.
4. Wish+infinitive: more formal way of saying ‘want + infinitive’. Used to talk about past/present/future
Examples:
I wish to speak to the manager, please.
She did not wish to stop, so calling police became a necessity.