1. Wishes about the present:
I wish/if only + past tense (for something impossible, improbable)
- I wish I had a car. (I do not have a car.)
- If only I were taller. (But I am not.)
- I wish it weren’t raining. (It is raining.)
Note:
If only is more emphatic than wish.
We often use were instead of was in a more formal style.
2. Wishes about the future:
wish/if only + could/would/have to/might
- I wish you would come to the party.
- If only I could meet you next week.
- She wishes she didn’t have to get up so early tomorrow.
Note:
We use could to refer to something that is difficult or impossible.
- I wish I could drive.
3. Wishes about the past
I wish/if only + past perfect
- I wish I hadn’t bought the car. (I bought the car.)
- If only I hadn’t spent so much money last week. (I spent a lot of money last week.)
4. Wishes for a change in someone else's behaviour:
I wish/if only + would
- I wish you would stop complaining
- If only my parents would let me go to the party.
→ Firstly, we use would for actions and changes, not situations.
- I wish my sister were/was here. (not would be here)
- I wish it weren’t/wasn’t so cold. (not wouldn’t be so cold)
And secondly, there must be two subjects in these sentences.
- We wish the dog would stop barking.
4. Wish or hope
Wish:
A desire that is impossible or unlikely to come true.
- I wish I had a partner. (I do not have a partner, and I doubt that I will ever have one)
We can use ‘wish’ with a noun phrase. This sentence structure has a similar meaning to ‘hope’. These types of sentences are usually only in use in special, often formal, situations.
- We wish you a happy New Year.
- We wish you a Merry Christmas.
- I wish you good luck.
Hope
We can use either the present simple (which is more common) or the future simple (which is less common). There is usually no change in meaning in either case. We hope that something is possible and likely to happen. It is always positive, we want it to happen.
- She hopes she gets the job. (future and present meaning)
- She hopes she will get the job. (only future meaning)
It is possible to use ‘hope’ with a past tense verb. This sentence structure is used when the final result is still unknown.
- I hope I bought enough wine.
Note:
- I hope you will be happy. (positive)
- I wish you were happy. (I do not think you are happy at the moment.)