The expression of wishes

The verb wish can be followed by to and can be used like want to in formal style to express an immediate desire

/ wish to (or want to) apply for a visa In addition, we can express hypothetical wishes and desires with

- the verb wish often for something that might happen

- the phrase // only often to express longing or regret

- the phrases i t ' s (high) time and i t ' s about time to express future wishes and impatience that a course of action is overdue

After wish if only it's (high) time i t ' s about time, we use

- the past tense to refer to present time

- the past perfect tense to refer to past time

- would and could to make general wishes or refer to the future
In other words, we 'go one tense back' [compare > 15.I3n3]

Though wish and if only are often used interchangeably, if only expresses more strongly the idea that the situation wished for does not exist, whereas wish is used for something that might happen Details follow

Expressing wishes with 'wish, 'if only' etc

11.42 The verb 'wish' and the phrase 'if only'

1.42.1 Present reference: 'wish/if only' with 'be' + complement

After wish and if only we may use

- the simple past of be
I wish/If only Tessa was here now

- the subjunctive [> 11.75.1] of be, i e were after all persons
This is formal and has the effect of making a wish more doubtful

/ wish/If only Tessa were here now Wish and if only can also be followed by the past progressive

/ wish/If only the sun was (or were) shining at this moment Compare hope + simple present or future for an immediate 'wish'

/ hope he is on time I hope he won't be late (Not */ wish*) [>

9.37.3]

11.42.2 Present reference: 'wish/if only' + verbs other than 'be'

/ wish/If only I knew the answer to your question

I wish/If only I didn't have to work for a living If only (but not wish) will also combine with the simple present

If only he gets this job it will make a great deal of difference Here, if only functions like if in Type 1 conditionals [> 14.4] and that is why the present (which has a future reference) can be used

11.42.3 Past reference with 'wish' and 'if only'

- be + complement / wish/If only I had been here yesterday

- verbs other than be I wish/If only you had let me know earlier