We use wish and if only to talk about situations we’d like to be different, now or in the past, and to complain about other people’s annoying habits. The trick is that the verb after wish moves one step back in time. Check the table, then try the exercises below. Every answer has a short explanation.
| Meaning | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Regret about now | wish + past simple / were | I wish I had a car. I wish it were Friday. |
| Ability you don’t have | wish + could | I wish I could swim. |
| Regret about the past | wish + past perfect | I wish I hadn’t said that. |
| Annoying behaviour / wanting change | wish + would | I wish you would stop talking. |
| Stronger feeling | if only + the same forms | If only I had more time! |
Wish sentences quiz
Four sets of 20 questions: start with wishes about the present (B1), move on to past regrets and would (B2), then if only, I’d rather and it’s time (C1), or try the At work set. Prefer to check everything at the end? Switch to Exam mode.
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I wish I taller.
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I wish I a car. I hate taking the bus.
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I wish I (can) swim.
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She wishes she in a bigger city.
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I hope you a great holiday!
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I I knew the answer.
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I wish it (not / be) so cold today.
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My brother wishes he speak Chinese.
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I wish I so tired. I can’t concentrate.
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We wish we (have) more free time.
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I it doesn’t rain tomorrow.
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Do you ever wish you famous?
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I wish I (know) her phone number. Then I could call her.
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He wishes he drive.
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I wish my flat bigger.
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I wish I (not / have) to work this weekend.
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I hope she the job.
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They wish they a garden.
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I wish I (be) on holiday right now.
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I wish I play the guitar like you.
Teachers: download these questions as a printable worksheet with an answer key. It’s free to use in class.
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I wish I harder for the exam last week.
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I wish you talking during the film! It’s so annoying.
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She wishes she (not / say) that to her boss yesterday.
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I wish it raining. I want to go out.
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I wish I to the party last night. Everyone says it was great.
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I wish my neighbours so much noise.
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We wish we (buy) that house when it was cheap.
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I wish I more money, but I don’t.
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He wishes he his job. He hates the new one.
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I wish you (tell) me the truth from the beginning.
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I wish you your phone at dinner. It’s really rude.
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If only I the bus! Now I’ll be late.
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I wish I (not / eat) so much cake. I feel sick.
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I wish I learned to swim as a child.
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If only it the weekend!
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She wishes she (can) come to the wedding, but she’s in Japan.
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I wish you always late. It drives me crazy.
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My parents wish I a doctor instead of an artist.
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I wish the bus (come). We’ve been waiting for 30 minutes!
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I wish I that email. It was a big mistake.
Teachers: download these questions as a printable worksheet with an answer key. It’s free to use in class.
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If only I listened to my parents!
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It’s high time you a job.
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I’d rather you (not / smoke) in the car.
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He talks as if he the boss.
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I’d rather you me earlier. Now it’s too late.
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Suppose you the lottery. What would you do?
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It’s about time we (go) home.
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If only he stop complaining!
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She looked at me as though she a ghost.
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I wish I (be) there to see it. It sounds amazing!
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I’d sooner you anything about it to anyone.
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If only I to speak French when I lived in Paris!
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I wish I worry so much about what people think.
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Don’t you wish you (take) that job in Canada?
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It’s time the government action on climate change.
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I wish people litter in the park.
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He behaves as if nothing (happen).
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Would you rather I tomorrow instead?
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If only we more time together when the kids were small.
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I wish I a bit more patient with my students.
Teachers: download these questions as a printable worksheet with an answer key. It’s free to use in class.
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I wish I more time to finish this report.
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I wish I the job offer from Google last year.
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My manager wishes we (not / miss) the deadline.
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I wish my colleagues interrupting me in meetings.
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I hope the client our proposal.
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I wish I (can) work from home more often.
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If only we more staff! We’re so busy.
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It’s time we a new marketing strategy.
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I wish I that email to the whole company. It was embarrassing.
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I’d rather you (send) me the files by email.
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He talks to us as if he the CEO.
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I wish the printer working properly.
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We wish we (invest) in that start-up five years ago.
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I wish I better at negotiating.
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I’d rather we the meeting until next week.
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If only the client (reply) to our emails!
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I wish my boss me more feedback.
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I hope we the contract next week.
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She wishes she (study) business at university.
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It’s high time this company its prices.
Teachers: download these questions as a printable worksheet with an answer key. It’s free to use in class.
Similar structures with a past verb
A few other expressions also use a past tense to talk about the present:
- I’d rather + person + past: I’d rather you didn’t smoke here.
- It’s (high / about) time + past: It’s high time you found a job.
- As if / as though + past (not true): He talks as if he were the boss.
- Suppose / supposing + past: Suppose you won the lottery…
Common mistakes
- ❌ I wish I have more money. → ✅ I wish I had more money.
- ❌ I wish I didn’t go to that party. (it’s in the past) → ✅ I wish I hadn’t gone.
- ❌ I wish I would be taller. → ✅ I wish I were taller.
- ❌ I wish you have a good trip. → ✅ I hope you have a good trip.
FAQ
What is the difference between “wish” and “hope”?
Hope is for things that are possible: I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow (it might not). Wish is for things that are unreal or impossible: I wish it weren’t raining (but it is). After hope we use normal tenses; after wish we move one tense back.
Can I say “I wish I would…”?
No. Wish + would is for other people or things you want to change: I wish he would call. I wish it would stop raining. For yourself, use the past simple or could: I wish I were more patient. I wish I could stop worrying.
“I wish I were” or “I wish I was”?
Both are correct. I wish I were is more formal and is preferred in exams; I wish I was is very common in conversation. The same is true for if only and as if. For more practice with unreal situations, try our mixed conditionals exercises.