I wish/ If only By : Amani Al.Khathami Careers I wish/ If only By : Amani Al.Khathami

Guessing Game Complete these sentences with what you feel and then read them. I wish __________in future. I wish I was __________ I really wish they had never __________ I wish I had a ____________ I wish the teacher was ____________

I wish/ if only Look at these sentences . 1) If I spoke Spanish, I could work in Zaragoza. I wish I spoke Spanish. 2) If I didn't smoke, I'd be healthier. I wish I didn't smoke. 3) If I had worked hard, I would have passed my exams. I wish I'd worked hard. 4) If I hadn't said that to her, we mightn't have split up. I wish I hadn't said it.

No Yes Exercise 1 Now answer these questions: 1. Do I speak Spanish ? Do I regret this? 2. Do I smoke? 3. Did I work? 4. Did I say that to her?

The use of ‘ I wish / if only We use the 'I wish' construction to talk about wishes and regrets - when we would like something which isn't true to be true, or vice-versa. Note that 'if only' has the same meaning, but is stronger.

I wish/ if only should be studied in relation with the three types of conditional sentences: Type 1: If + present simple / will E.g. If I have enough money, I will travel to New York. (That is, I will check how much money I have and see if it possible for me to go) Type 2: If + past simple / would + infinitive E.g.: If I had enough money, I would travel to New York. (That is, I  don't really have the money to afford the voyage, so I won't go) Type 3: If + past perfect / would + perfect infinitive E.g.: If I had had enough money, I would have gone to New York. (I wanted to go, but I didn't have enough money, so I couldn't)

Rule 1 When I wish and if only are used, they follow the structure of one of these conditionals, depending on what we want to express. If we talk about a regret about a present or future event, then we will use the structure of the second type of conditional and the expressions I wish/if only are followed by past simple: I wish I had enough money to travel to New York. If only I had enough money to travel to New York. (That is, I don't have enough money, and I am sorry for it because I can't go)

Rule 2 If the event we regret happened (or failed to happen) in the past and is, therefore, impossible to change, then we use the third type of conditional structure. This time the expressions I wish/if only are followed by past perfect. I wish I had had enough money to travel to New York. If only I had had enough money to travel to New York. (That is, I didn't have enough money to travel, so I couldn't go and now I regret it)

rules 1+2 I wish + past simple I wish + past perfect You regret a present situation. This construction is similar to the if clause in a second conditional. Example : I wish we could afford a new washing machine. You regret a past situation. This construction is similar to the if clause in a third conditional. Example : I wish we hadn't forgotten to buy sugar.

Practice Exercise 2 Make sentences starting with 'I wish'. For this exercise only use negative contractions. Don't use any punctuation. You may have to change some words. 1. I'd like us to be on a beach somewhere. 2. I didn't buy any coffee. 3. I'd like to have a Mercedes. 4. I called him a liar.

Rule 3 I wish I could ... / If only I could .. These constructions fall into the category of regrets about the present, could being the past of can, and we are regretting a present situation. Exercise 4 Make sentences starting with 'I wish'. For this exercise don't use any contractions or punctuation. I can't dance. We can't afford to go skiing this year. He can't help me. They can't come for Christmas.

Rule 4 Exercise 5 I wish / If only + would We use I wish / If only + would when we want someone to behave differently from how they normally behave, or to change their habits. We can also use it with certain things, such as machines and the weather. Exercise 5 Make sentences starting with 'I wish' + 'would'. For this exercise only use contractions for negatives and don't use any punctuation. Use the words in brackets, where given. He never irons his own shirt. She takes ages in the bathroom. (such ages) The dog doesn't do what it's told. He's always leaving his things everywhere. She's taking a long time. (hurry up) The light's flickering (stop)

To sum up We use I wish / If only in 3 ways: a) With a past form (usually but not always past simple) to talk about regrets about the present b) With past-perfect to talk about regrets about the past c) With future (would /could) use always when talking about annoying habits IF ONLY is used to make emphatic wishes.