'Wish' and 'If only' are used to express regrets, desires for change, or complaints about the present or past. 🔹 Structure and use : 1. Wish / If only + past simple → regret about the PRESENT : Expresses a desire to change a current situation. • I wish I had more money. (I don't have much money now) • If only she were here. (she is not here) • I wish I could speak French better. • If only it didn't rain so much. ⚠️ We use 'were' for all persons (not 'was') in formal English. 2. Wish / If only + past perfect → regret about the PAST : Expresses regret that something did not happen. • I wish I had studied harder. (I didn't study hard — I regret it) • If only I had listened to her advice. • She wishes she hadn't said that. 3. Wish + would → complaint or desire for change : Expresses a desire for something to change (often about another person's behaviour). • I wish you would stop talking. (you keep talking — it's annoying) • I wish the government would invest more in education. • If only people would be more respectful. 🔹 If only vs Wish : Same meaning — 'If only' is stronger and more emphatic.

📝 Complete with the correct form : 1. I wish I ___ (be) taller. → were 2. She wishes she ___ (study) medicine. (but she didn't) → had studied 3. If only he ___ (stop) making noise! → would stop 4. I wish I ___ (can) travel more. → could 5. If only we ___ (not forget) our books yesterday. → had not forgotten 📝 Express regret using 'I wish' : Situation: You failed the exam because you didn't prepare. → I wish I had prepared for the exam. → If only I had studied harder. Situation: You can't swim. → I wish I could swim. → If only I had learned to swim.