20 Examples of Prayers with Wish

Wish - If only

In the language English, the terms are used ‘wish’ and 'if only' in order to express wishes or regrets, both in relation to future events and past situations whose resolution did not have the expected or desired outcome.

Ultimately, these are two ways of expressing emotional issues:

Rules of use of 'wish' Y 'if only’

To apply these structures correctly you must know some rules.

One of them points out that to refer to wishes still possible to be achieved, the ‘wish’ is accompanied by past simple. When the events have already occurred and the outcome is known, the wish that they had been different is materialized by combining ‘wish’ with past perfect.

In the case of 'if only', It must be taken into account that there are three options according to the three verb tenses: wishes in past tense (with the verb in past perfect), the wishes in present (with the verb inpast simple) and the wishes in future (with the auxiliary ‘would’ and the verb in the infinitive). When faced with questions about the future or expectations, ‘if only’ and ‘I wish’ also function as quite emphatic answers, similar in the sense of ‘hopefully’ in Spanish.

Sentences with 'Wish' and 'If only'

The list of twenty sentences with 'I wish' or 'If only' which here follows exemplifies these uses.

1. I wish you wouldn’t arrive so late always. (I wish you weren't always late).
2. If only she had listened to what her friends of her had been telling her. (If only he had heard what his friends were telling him).
3. I wish you were here. (I wish you're here).
4. I wish it rained more often in Greece. (I wish it rains more often in Greece).
5. I wish we could be friends. (I wish that we could be friends).
6. If only I had more time for my hobbies. (If only I had more time for my hobbies).
7. If only we hadn't bought this printer. (If only we hadn't bought this printer).
8. We wish you a Merry Christmas. (We wish you a happy Christmas).
9. I wish we could go to the match on Sunday, but we're visiting my mum. (I wish we could go to the game on Sunday, but we'll visit my mom).
10. They wish us the best in our new jobs. (They wish us the best in our jobs).
11. I wish I had seen that film. (I wish I had seen that movie).
12. I wish I could fix the computer. (I wish I could fix the computer).
13. If only there was something she could do for them. (If only there was something he could do for them).
14. If only I had more money! (If only I had more money).
15. I wish he would stop calling me "honey". (I wish he would stop calling me 'honey'.)
16. If only you didn’t smoke so much. (If only you didn't smoke so much).
17. If only it was summer. (If only it was summer).
18. I wish you had told me the truth. (I wish i told you the truth).
19. If only he could have explained what happened! (If only he could explain what she went through).
20. I wish I had a bigger car. (She wishes she had a bigger car).

Andrea is a language teacher, and in her instagram account offers private lessons by video call so that you learn to speak English.