Cách sử dụng I wish & If only

THE USE OF 'I WISH & IF ONLY'

There are three distinct types of  I wish / if only  sentences:

1. Wish, wanting change for the present or future with the simple past.
2. Regret with the past perfect.
3. Complaints with would + verb.

1. Expressing a wish: (thể hiện một mơ ước)

Form:

If only / I wish + simple past

Example:

• If only I knew how to use a computer. (I don’t know how to use a computer and I would like to learn how to use it)
• If only I didn’t have so much homework I could go to the concert tonight. (She has a lot of homework and she can’t go to the concert.)
• I wish you didn’t live so far away. 
• I wish I knew what to do. 

Use:

• To express a wish in the present or in the future.
• The simple past here is an unreal past.
• When you use the verb to be the form is “were”.
  Example:
  I wish I were a millionaire!

2. Expressing regret: (thể hiện sự nuối tiếc)

Form:

If only / I wish + past perfect

Example:

• If only I had woken up early. (I didn't wake up early and I missed my bus.)
• I wish I’d studied harder when I was at school. (I didn’t study harder when I  was at school).
• I wish I hadn’t eaten all that chocolate. I feel sick.(I ate all that chocolate)
• If only I’d known you were coming.

Use:

• To express a regret.
• The action is past.

3. Expressing complaining and anoying: (thể hiện sự phàn nàn, khó chịu)

Form:

I wish / if only + would + verb

Example:

• I wish you wouldn't arrive so late all the time (I'm annoyed because you always come late and I want you to arrive on time)
• I wish you wouldn’t borrow my clothes without asking. 
• I wish it would rain. The garden really needs some water. 
• I wish you’d give up smoking. it’s really bad for you. 

Note: We can only use wish + would to talk about things we can’t change.

So I wish I wouldn’t eat so much chocolate is not possible although we can say I wish I didn’t eat so much chocolate.

Use:

• To complain about a behavior that you disapprove.
• Expressing impatience, annoyance or dissatisfaction with a present action.

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DO THE EXERCISE

1. Decide whether these statements express a "wish" or a "regret":

1. I wish I could fly. (Regret/ Wish )
2. If only she had seen the doctor earlier. He could have saved her. (Regret/ Wish)
3. If only I traveled to New York. (Regret /Wish )
4. I wish I were a doctor. (Regret /Wish)

2. Choose the correct answer:

1. Alice didn't get a good grade. She wishes she (worked) had worked harder
2. Tom likes football very much. He wishes he (become) became a professional football player.
3. He was running very fast when he had a heart attack. If only he (not/run) hadn't run so fast.
4. She's keen on computers. She wishes she (study) studied computer science next school year.
5. I am sorry I don’t know how to use the computer. If only I (know) knew how to use it.
6. I stayed late at work and missed the last bus. I wish I (stay) had not stayed at work late. 

(Tham khảo từ britishcouncil.org & myenglishpages.com)