FORM:

I WISH / IF ONLY
Express a wish for
things to be
different
Express a wish for
something to
happen or to stop
happening
Express a wish that
something had or
hadnt happened

wish + past simple

if only + past
(subjunctive)
wish + could / would
if only + would /
wouldnt
wish + past perfect
simple or continuous
if only + past perfect

USE:
If only is stronger than wish. It can be used in a clause on its own or we
can add another clause. In the third conditional form, it often expresses
deep regret.

EXERCISES:
A - Express wishes. Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate
verbs.
1. I
2. I
3. I
4. I
5. I
6. I
7. I
8. I
9. I
10.I

wish
wish
wish
wish
wish
wish
wish
wish
wish
wish

I __________________ a millionaire.
I __________________ a fast car.
I __________________ foreign languages.
I __________________ a beautiful girl.
she __________________ me.
we __________________ married.
we __________________ two children.
we __________________in a big house.
I __________________ for a multinational company.
we __________________ holidays in tropical countries.

B- Express wishes by writing complete sentences. Use were, had,

could, would, etc.
1. I / be / an electronics engineer.
_____________________________________________________________
2. She / more people / read / her blog.
_____________________________________________________________
3. I / you / answer my messages.

_____________________________________________________________
4. My parents / I / go to / university.
_____________________________________________________________
5. I / we / meet / more often.
_____________________________________________________________
6. We / you / drive / more carefully
_____________________________________________________________
7. I / you / not take / things / so seriously
_____________________________________________________________
8. I / have / more true friends.
_____________________________________________________________
C- Express wishes according to the situations. Follow the example.
1. I need to buy a new computer.
I wish computers werent so expensive.( computers / expensive)
2. I love London.
I wish _____________________________ (I/go) there more often.
3. The smell of stale cigarette smoke is very unpleasant.
If only _____________________________ (you/ stop) smoking.
4. It was a very beautiful house.
I wish _____________________________ (they / not have) it demolished.
5. She is very short.
She wishes _____________________________(she / be) taller.
6. I dont understand these exercises.
I wish _____________________________( they/be) easier.
7. We are always arguing.
I wish _____________________________( we / get along).
8. I didnt go to the party. I wasnt invited.
I wish _____________________________(they / invite) me.
9. I dont do much exercise.
I wish _____________________________ (I/ practise) a sport.
10.You never care about what I say.
I wish _____________________________ (you/listen) to me more.
11.She is English and I cant understand her
12.If only _____________________________ (I/speak) English better.

Answer key

A (suggestion)
1. were
2. had
3. spoke
4. met
5. loved
6. got
7. had
8. lived
9. worked
10.spent
B
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

I wish I were an electronics engineer.

She wishes more people would read her blog.
I wish you answer my messages.
My parents wish I could go to University.
I wish we would meet more often.
We wish you would drive more carefully.
I wish you wouldnt take things so seriously.
I wish I had more true friends.

C
2. I wish I could go there more often.
3. If only you could stop smoking.
4. I wish they hadnt had it demolished.
5. She wishes she were taller.
6. I wish they were easier.
7. I wish we could get along.
8. I wish they had invited me.
9. I wish I practised a sport.
10.I wish you listen to me more.
11.if only I spoke English better.