Learn English 100% free...Get 1 free lesson per week // Add a new lesson
Log in!

Click here to log in
New account
Millions of accounts created on our sites.
JOIN our free club and learn English now!



  • Home
  • Print
  • Guestbook
  • Report a bug




  • Get a free English lesson every week!
    Click here!





    Partners:
    - Our other sites
       


    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #5529: I wish, if only
    > Other English exercises on the same topic: Conditional and hypothesis [Change theme]
    > Similar tests: - Conditional - Conditional clauses - Hypothetical sentences: tenses - Third conditional - Conditional Sentences - If or whether - If clauses: step 2 - If clauses-Beginners
    > Double-click on words you don't understand


    I wish, if only


    I wish, If only.

     

     

    Wishes about the present

     

    We use wish with past Tense forms (simple and continuous) to express regret about present situations:

    - I wish I was taller = (I’m not very tall)

    - I wish I was going with you = (but I'm not)

     

    I wish you were more help. = (you are not) I wish I were can replace I wish I was.

    To many people, I wish I were sounds more correct:

    I wish I were taller.

     

    We use wish with could to express a wish for a present situation to be different:

     I wish I could use a computer well.

    X I wish I would tell her about it.

    I wish I could tell her about it.

     

    Past Simple > present>I wish I knew the answer. (= I don’t know)

    Past Simple > present > I wish I was /were better at sports. (= I'm not)

    Past Continuous > present > I wish I was /were going with you. (= I'm not)     

    Could > present > I wish I could give you an answer. (= I can't)

    Would > future > I wish you would be quiet. (= Your talking irritates me.)

    Past Perfect > past > I wish I had known you then. (= but I didn't)

    Could have > past> I wish I could have explained. (= I wasn't able to)

     

    Wishes about the future

     

    We use wish with would to say how we would like somebody to behave in the future:

    X I wish you to stop talking.

    /I wish you would stop talking.

    X I wish that they will stop arguing.

    /I wish they would stop arguing.

     

    • We can also use this pattern in situations that do not involve people:

    I wish this car would go faster.

     

    Wishes about the past

     

    We use wish with the Past Perfect when we have

    Regrets about the past:

    I wish I hadn't taken your advice. (= but I did)

    I wish she could have come. (= but she didn't)

     

    If only

     

    If only can be more emphatic than I wish. The verb forms after if only are the same as the patterns with wish:

    If only I had more money! (= but I haven't)

    If only I was going on holiday with you!

    If only you were here. (= but you re not)

    If only the sun would come out!

    If only you could be here! (= but you're not)

    If only I'd listened to you! (=but I didn't )

    If only he could have explained! (=but he wasn't able to)

     

     


    Complete these sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets. Some sentences require a negation and use the contractions in the negative form.





    Twitter Share
    English exercise "I wish, if only" created by felin with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from felin]
    Click here to see the current stats of this English test

    Please log in to save your progress.


    1. Bruce wishes he (have) more money so he could buy a new sweater.

    2. I wish I (be) taller so that I could be in the basketball team.

    3. I wish you (stop) watching television while I am talking to you.

    4. I wish you (do) that. It annoys me.

    5. I wish the holidays (come) so we could go off to the seaside.

    6. Of course Tom wishes he (come) with us to Paris, but he has to stay here.

    7. I wish we (go) to the match on Saturday but we're visiting my uncle.

    8. I wish you (keep) your mouth shut yesterday. Now Mary knows.

    9. If only I (lose) all my money. Now I'm broke.

    10. Peter is always late. If only he (turn up) on time for a change!










    End of the free exercise to learn English: I wish, if only
    A free English exercise to learn English.
    Other English exercises on the same topic : Conditional and hypothesis | All our lessons and exercises