If only
I cannot swim.
If only I could swim.
She cannot dance.
She wishes she could dance.
I liek to stay at home, I don't want to go out.
I would rather stay at home than go out.
I wish I can sing well.
I wish I COULD sing well.
What tense do you use with wish and if only for general present situation?
past simple
She is not creative.
If only she was creative.
Helen is not the prettiest girl in class.
Helen wishes she was the prettiest girl in class.
His teacher gave him too much homework. He doens't like that.
He would rather his teacher didn't give him too much homework.
She wishes she is a doctor.
She wishes she WAS a doctor.
What do we use "could" in wish and if only for?
For abilities we wish we had.
She is doing her homework but she wants to watch a movie.
If only she was watching a movie.
He never buys her flowers.
She wishes
She wishes he would buy her flowers.
He came to my house and he didn't call. I was annoyed.
I would rather he called me first.
She would rather eat sushi then fried chicken.
She would rather eat sushi THAN fried chicken.
What do you use with wish and if only to express regret about past actions?
Past perfect
He always talk so loud. It's annoying.
If only he wouldn't talk so loud.
He didn't review for the test and he failed.
He wishes he had reviewed for the test.
I bought the pink dress but my mom wanted me to buy the green dress.
My mom would rather I bought the green dress.
If only he had study harder.
If only he had STUDIED harder.
What do you use with wish and if only to talk about habits or behaviours you want peopel to start or stop doing?
would
I ate too much ice cream and my stommach hurted.
If only I hadn't eaten too much ice cream.
He cares too much about what people think.
He wishes he didn't care too much about what people think.
He bought me a new phone but I wanted a new laptop.
I would rather he bought me a new laptop.
She wishes he wouldn't rather talk so loud.
She wishes he wouldn't talk so loud.
What is the difference between the two sentences?
1. She wishes he would buy her flowers.
2. She would rather he bought her flowers.
1. A habit she wishes he would start doing
2. She wanted flowers but he bought her something else. She regrets his action.