wish and if only · wish et if only
Wishing things were different
- wish expresses a wish or a regret — something you'd like to be different.
- I wish I had more time.
- The grammar after wish is a bit special.
I wish the washing machine would stop eating single socks.
Souhaiter que les choses soient différentes
- wish exprime un souhait ou un regret — quelque chose que vous aimeriez voir changer.
- I wish I had more time.
- La grammaire après wish est un peu spéciale.
Je souhaite que la machine à laver cesse de manger les chaussettes simples.
wish + past (present regret)
- For a present situation you're unhappy with: wish + past simple.
- I wish I lived by the sea. She wishes she had a car.
- Use were for all subjects: I wish I were taller.
wish + prétérit (regret présent)
- Pour une situation présente avec laquelle vous n'êtes pas content : wish + passé simple.
- I wish I lived by the sea. She wishes she had a car.
- Utilisez were pour tous les sujets : I wish I were taller.
Choose: I wish I ___ more free time. (present regret) · Choisissez : I wish I ___ more free time. (regret présent)
Present regret → wish + past simple: “I wish I had more time.” · Regret présent → wish + passé simple : “I wish I had more time.”
Complete: I wish I ___ taller. (past of “be”) · Complétez : I wish I ___ taller. (passé de “be”)"
After wish, “were” is used for all subjects: “I wish I were taller.” · Après wish, “were” est utilisé pour tous les sujets : “I wish I were taller.”
Translate into English: 但愿我有更多时间。 · Traduisez en anglais : 但愿我有更多时间。
Present regret → wish + past: “I wish I had more time.” · Regret présent → wish + passé : “I wish I had more time.”
wish + past perfect (past regret)
- For a past regret: wish + past perfect.
- I wish I had studied harder. (but I didn't)
- It's like the third conditional — about an unreal past.
wish + past perfect (regret passé)
- Pour un regret passé : wish + past perfect.
- I wish I had studied harder. (mais non, je ne l'ai pas fait)
- C'est comme le conditionnel troisième — à propos d'un passé irréel.
For a PAST regret, do we say “I wish I had studied harder”? · Pour un regret PASSÉ, dit-on “I wish I had studied harder” ?
Yes — past regret → wish + past perfect (had + past participle). · Oui — regret passé → wish + plus-que-parfait (had + participe passé).
wish + would (other people)
- To complain about someone's behaviour: wish + would.
- I wish you would listen. I wish it would stop raining.
- if only works the same way, but stronger: If only I had known!
wish + would (autres personnes)
- Pour se plaindre du comportement de quelqu'un : wish + would.
- I wish you would listen. I wish it would stop raining.
- if only fonctionne de la même manière, mais plus fort : If only I had known !
Which kind of wish? · Quel type de wish ?
wish + past = present regret; wish + past perfect = past regret; wish + would = someone else's annoying habit. · wish + passé = regret présent ; wish + plus-que-parfait = regret passé ; wish + would = habitude ennuyeuse d'autrui.
Common mistakes
- ❌ I wish I have more time. → ✓ I wish I had more time. — step one tense back.
- ❌ I wish I studied harder last year. → ✓ I wish I had studied harder last year.
- ❌ I wish you will pass the exam. → ✓ I hope you pass. — real possibility → hope.
Erreurs courantes
- ❌ I wish I have more time. → ✓ Je wish j'had plus de temps. — reculer d'un temps.
- ❌ I wish I studied harder last year. → ✓ Je wish j'had studied plus dur l'année dernière.
- ❌ I wish you will pass the exam. → ✓ J'hope que tu réussiras l'examen. — possibilité réelle → hope.
Match each sentence to what it expresses. · Reliez chaque phrase à ce qu'elle exprime.
wish + past = now; wish + past perfect = the past; wish + would = others' behaviour; hope = possible. · wish + passé = maintenant ; wish + plus-que-parfait = le passé ; wish + would = comportement des autres ; hope = possible.
Complete: If only I ___ known earlier! (have) · Complétez : If only I ___ known earlier! (have)
if only works like wish: a past regret takes the past perfect. · if only fonctionne comme wish : un regret passé prend le plus-que-parfait.
- Present regret → wish + past (I wish I had …).
- Past regret → wish + past perfect (I wish I had done …).
- Someone's behaviour → wish + would; if only = a stronger wish.
- Regret présent → wish + passé (I wish I had …).
- Regret passé → wish + past perfect (I wish I had done …).
- Comportement d'autrui → wish + would ; if only = un wish plus fort.
Write one sentence about something you wish were different now, using “I wish + past tense”. · Écrivez une phrase sur quelque chose que vous souhaiteriez différent maintenant, en utilisant “I wish + temps du passé”."
Example: “I wish I lived closer to my friends.” · Exemple : “I wish I lived closer to my friends.”