Wish, If Only and Would Rather: Regrets, Complaints and Preferences

The Big Idea: Going One Step Back

When we talk about unreal situations — things we want to be different — English moves the verb one step back in time. You already know this from the second conditional: If I had more time, I would travel. The same rule works with wish, if only, would rather and it's time.

Wish + Past Simple: Present Situations

Use this when the present is not how you want it to be.

• I wish I lived closer to work. (I don't live close. The commute is long.)
• I wish I knew the answer. (I don't know it.)
• I wish it wasn't so expensive to rent in this city.

With be, formal and exam English prefers were for all persons:

• I wish I were more confident in meetings.
• She wishes she were taller. (was is also common in speech.)

Wish + Past Perfect: Past Regrets

Use this when you regret something that happened, or did not happen.

• I wish I had accepted that job offer. (I didn't accept it.)
• I wish I hadn't said that in the interview. (I said it.)
• We wish we had booked the hotel earlier — now it's full.

Wish + Would: Complaints and Wanted Changes

Use wish + would to complain about someone's behaviour or to say you want something to change. It often shows irritation.

• I wish my neighbours would turn the music down.
• I wish you wouldn't leave your dishes in the sink.
• I wish it would stop raining!

Important: you cannot use wish + would about yourself.

• Wrong: I wish I would have more free time.
• Correct: I wish I had more free time.

Wish + Could: Abilities

• I wish I could come to your party, but I'm working.
• I wish I could have helped more. (A past ability you didn't have.)

If Only: A Stronger Wish

If only follows exactly the same rules as wish, but it sounds more emotional.

• If only I had more time!
• If only we had left earlier — we wouldn't have missed the flight.
• If only he would listen to advice.

Would Rather: Preferences

Same subject: would rather + base form

• I'd rather work from home on Fridays.
• I'd rather not discuss this over email. (Negative: would rather not + verb.)
• Would you rather meet on Tuesday or Wednesday?

Different subject: would rather + person + past simple

When you want someone else to do something, use the past simple (another step back):

• I'd rather you sent me the file today.
• My manager would rather we didn't book meetings before 9.

This is a very polite way to make a request at work:

• Direct: Don't call me after 6.
• Polite: I'd rather you didn't call after 6, if possible.

It's (High) Time: Something Should Already Happen

It's time + subject + past simple means that something should happen now — it is late already.

• It's time we updated our website.
• It's high time the government did something about housing prices.

Compare: It's time to go. (a simple statement, no criticism)

In Real Use: Talking About Your Career

"Honestly, I sometimes wish I had studied IT instead of economics — the tech market here is huge. But I don't regret moving to Canada. If only I had started improving my English earlier! These days I'd rather spend an hour a day practising than pay for an expensive course later. And it's high time I updated my LinkedIn profile."

In Exams

These structures are perfect for questions about the past, regrets or changes:

• IELTS Speaking Part 3: "What would you change about your city?" → "I wish there were more green spaces downtown, and frankly it's high time the city invested in public transport."
• CELPIP Speaking Task 1 (Giving Advice) and Task 7 (Expressing Opinions): "If I were in your position, I'd rather rent first than buy right away. Many people wish they had waited before buying."
• Using one or two of these structures naturally shows grammatical range. Don't force all of them into one answer.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using present tenses after wish

• Wrong: I wish I have more money.
• Correct: I wish I had more money.

Mistake 2: Past simple for past regrets

• Wrong: I wish I studied harder last year.
• Correct: I wish I had studied harder last year.

Mistake 3: Wish + would about yourself

• Wrong: I wish I would be more organized.
• Correct: I wish I were more organized.

Mistake 4: "Would rather" + to

• Wrong: I'd rather to stay home.
• Correct: I'd rather stay home.

Practice Tips

1. Write three wishes about your present life, three regrets about the past and three things you want other people to change.
2. Turn complaints into polite requests with I'd rather you didn't...
3. Prepare an exam answer to "Is there anything you would change about your education?" using wish + past perfect and it's time.