I Wish, If Only and It's Time — Exercises
Practice I wish and if only with past simple, past perfect and would, plus it's time + past: I wish I were, if only I'd known, it's time we left.
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I wish I ___ taller — I can never reach the top shelf in the kitchen.
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were
A wish about the present → 'wish' + past form: 'I wish I were taller' (I'm not tall now). After 'wish' the verb moves one step back, so 'am' is wrong.
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I feel awful. I wish I ___ that second dessert last night.
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hadn't had
A regret about the past ('last night') → 'wish' + past perfect: 'I wish I hadn't had'. 'Didn't have' would be a wish about the present.
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It's ten o'clock already — it's time the kids ___ to bed.
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went
'It's time' + subject + past simple ('went') talks about now: they should be in bed, but they aren't yet. The past form doesn't mean the past here.
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My neighbour plays loud music every night. I wish he ___ it down.
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would turn
You're annoyed by someone else's behaviour and want him to change it → 'wish' + 'would' ('would turn'). 'Had turned' would be a regret about one moment in the past.
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I wish I ___ to the party last night — everyone says it was brilliant.
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had gone
A regret about last night → 'wish' + past perfect ('had gone'). 'Went' after 'wish' would be about the present.
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Come on, it's nearly midnight. It's time we ___ a taxi home.
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got
'It's time' + subject + past simple ('we got') means we should do it now. Without a subject, use the infinitive: 'It's time to get a taxi' — 'we to get' is impossible.
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I wish you ___ interrupting me all the time — it's really annoying.
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would stop
You're complaining about someone else's annoying habit and want them to change → 'wish' + 'would': 'I wish you would stop'.
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If only I ___ my phone at home — now I can't call anyone to say I'm lost.
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hadn't left
Leaving the phone happened earlier, before now → 'if only' + past perfect ('hadn't left'), just like 'wish'. 'Didn't leave' would be about the present.
I Wish, If Only and It's Time
Wish follows the same rule as unreal conditionals: the verb moves one step back. A wish about the present takes the past simple: I wish I were taller, I wish I knew the answer. A regret about the past takes the past perfect: I wish I hadn't eaten so much last night. Wish + would is different: it expresses annoyance at someone else's behaviour and a desire for them to change it — I wish you would stop interrupting me, I wish my neighbour would turn the music down. Because of that, it is not used about yourself: I wish I would be taller is wrong. If only means the same as I wish but sounds stronger and more emotional: If only I'd listened to you! It's time + subject + past simple says that something should happen now and is already slightly late: It's time the kids went to bed. Without a subject, use the infinitive: It's time to go.
Last updated: · Satori Editorial