wish and if only · wish e 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.
Desejando que as coisas fossem diferentes
- wish expressa um desejo ou um arrependimento — algo que você gostaria que fosse diferente.
- I wish I had more time.
- A gramática após wish é um pouco especial.
I wish the washing machine would stop eating single socks.
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 + passado (arrependimento presente)
- Para uma situação presente que você não gosta: wish + past simple.
- I wish I lived by the sea. She wishes she had a car.
- Use were para todos os sujeitos: I wish I were taller.
Choose: I wish I ___ more free time. (present regret) · Escolha: I wish I ___ mais tempo livre. (arrependimento presente)
Present regret → wish + past simple: “I wish I had more time.” · Arrependimento presente → wish + passado simples: “I wish I had more time.”
Complete: I wish I ___ taller. (past of “be”) · Complete: I wish I ___ mais alto. (passado do “be”)
After wish, “were” is used for all subjects: “I wish I were taller.” · Após wish, “were” é usado para todos os sujeitos: “I wish I were taller.”
Translate into English: 但愿我有更多时间。 · Traduza para inglês: 但愿我有更多时间。
Present regret → wish + past: “I wish I had more time.” · Arrependimento presente → wish + passado: “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 (arrependimento passado)
- Para um arrependimento passado: wish + past perfect.
- I wish I had studied harder. (mas eu não estudei)
- É como o terceiro condicional — sobre um passado irreal.
For a PAST regret, do we say “I wish I had studied harder”? · Para um arrependimento PASSADO, dizemos “I wish I had studied harder”?
Yes — past regret → wish + past perfect (had + past participle). · Sim — arrependimento passado → wish + past perfect (had + particípio passado).
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 (outras pessoas)
- Para reclamar do comportamento de alguém: wish + would.
- I wish you would listen. I wish it would stop raining.
- if only funciona da mesma forma, mas com mais força: If only I had known!
Which kind of wish? · Que tipo de wish?
wish + past = present regret; wish + past perfect = past regret; wish + would = someone else's annoying habit. · wish + passado = arrependimento presente; wish + past perfect = arrependimento passado; wish + would = hábito irritante de outra pessoa.
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.
Erros comuns
- ❌ I wish I have more time. → ✓ I wish I had more time. — dê um passo para trás no tempo.
- ❌ 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. — possibilidade real → hope.
Match each sentence to what it expresses. · Combine cada frase com o que ela expressa.
wish + past = now; wish + past perfect = the past; wish + would = others' behaviour; hope = possible. · wish + passado = agora; wish + past perfect = o passado; wish + would = comportamento dos outros; hope = possível.
Complete: If only I ___ known earlier! (have) · Complete: If only I ___ sabido antes! (have)
if only works like wish: a past regret takes the past perfect. · if only funciona como wish: um arrependimento passado leva o past perfect.
- 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.
- Arrependimento presente → wish + passado (I wish I had …).
- Arrependimento passado → wish + past perfect (I wish I had done …).
- Comportamento de alguém → wish + would; if only = um wish mais forte.
Write one sentence about something you wish were different now, using “I wish + past tense”. · Escreva uma frase sobre algo que você gostaria que fosse diferente agora, usando “I wish + passado”.
Example: “I wish I lived closer to my friends.” · Exemplo: “I wish I lived closer to my friends.”