Student A: Are you going to the Academic writing workshop on Saturday?

Student B: If only I could come! Unfortunately, I have to go to my cousin’s wedding. I wish I didn’t have to be there, but it’s family. If only I’d (had) learnt about the workshop earlier, I could have told my cousin I was busy.

Student C: I wish you’d (would) stop making excuses. You hate academic writing! If only you’d (would) be honest for once!

Use wish and if only +

1. past simple to talk about things or situations you would like to be different now or in the future, but which are impossible or unlikely:
   1. I wish/if only I wasn’t that busy with school (but I am and it’s a shame).
   2. I wish/if only I didn’t have any classes on Monday morning (but I do, unfortunately)
   3. I wish/if only I lived closer to school (but I don’t).
2. past continuous to talk about actions in progress at the present time or future plans and intentions:
   1. I wish/if only it wasn't raining now. (but it is raining)
   2. I wish/if only I wasn’t* working on those assignments tonight, I could go to the cinema with you. (but I am because I need to submit them tomorrow)
   * in formal English use “were” instead of “was” for I, he, she and it.
3. could to talk about abilities and possibilities:
   1. I wish/if only I could speak Japanese. (but, unfortunately, I can’t)
   2. I wish/if only I could come to English classes every day. (but, I can’t because they take place once a week)
4. would to talk about a desire for someone to do something differently or for a situation to be different. Would is often used to talk about other people’s annoying habits or annoying situations which we would like to change:
   1. I wish/if only you wouldn’t play your music so loud when I’m studying (but your music is loud)
   2. I wish/if only our English teacher wouldn’t set so many home assignments (but she does and it’s annoying)
   3. I wish/if only you wouldn’t study so hard - it makes me look stupid in classes! (but you do and I find it annoying)

   NOTE: With would you cannot use the same subject in both clauses:

   • I wish I wouldn´t work so hard. 👎
   • say about yourself: I wish/If only I didn't have to work so hard. 👍
   • say about someone else: I wish/If only you wouldn´t work so hard. 👍
5. past perfect to talk about past situations which we can’t change and which we regret and want them to have happened differently:
   1. I wish/if only I had studied harder (but I didn’t and now I’ve failed the test)
   2. I wish/if only I had learnt about the conference earlier - I would have registered. (but I didn’t and I missed it)
   3. I wish/if only the experiment hadn’t failed (but it did and I have to do it again).