11.17 Wish and If only

Notice that we use wish and if only with the verb forms of the second and third conditional, e.g.:

I wish (that) John was here.
(Ojalá John estuviera aquí.)

If only John was here.
(Tan sólo si John estuviera aquí.)

Mary wishes she could play the piano.
(Mary desearía poder tocar el piano.)

If only Mary could play the piano.
(Tan sólo si Mary pudiera tocar el piano.)

Tom wished he hadn't drunk so much.
(Tom deseaba no haber bebido tanto.)

"If only I hadn't drunk so much", he moaned.
("Tan sólo si no hubiera bebido tanto", dijo quejándose.)

Notice that we can also use wish and if only to express regret about situations that are expected in the future. In these cases the verb form is the past continuous or would plus the infinitive, e.g.:

I wish you'd/would come to the party tomorrow.
(Desearía que pensaras venir a la fiesta mañana.)

I wish you were coming to the party tomorrow.
(Desearía que pensaras venir a la fiesta mañana.)

If only you'd come to the party tomorrow.
(Desearía que pensaras venir a la fiesta mañana.)

If only you were coming to the party tomorrow.
(Desearía que pensaras venir a la fiesta mañana.)

Jo wishes you'd answer her email.
(Jo desearía que contestaras su mensaje.)