Wish, if only and would rather
Wish, if only and would rather
I wish I knew. If only I had listened. I’d rather stay. Express regrets, wishes and preferences like a native — with the correct tense backshift.
wish / if only + past simple
👉 A wish about the present — go one step back:
I wish I knew the answer. (I don’t know)
If only I were taller. (I’m not)
I wish we lived nearer the sea.
👉 were for all persons is formal: I wish I were rich.
wish / if only + past perfect
👉 A regret about the past — two steps back:
I wish I had studied harder. (I didn’t)
If only I had listened to you.
She wishes she hadn’t said that.
👉 wish + would = annoyance about others’ behaviour: I wish you would stop complaining.
would rather / it’s time
👉 would rather + infinitive = preference: I’d rather stay home tonight.
👉 would rather + past simple = wish for someone else: I’d rather you didn’t smoke in here.
👉 it’s (high) time + past simple = something should happen now: It’s time we went.
👉 Same backshift logic as wish!
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