9.8.5 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.
(Tant de bo en John hi fos.)

If only John was here.
(Tant de bo en John hi fos.)

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

If only Mary could play the piano.
(Tant de bo la Mary pogués tocar el piano.)

Tom wished he hadn't drunk so much.
(En Tom desitjava no haver begut tant.)

"If only I hadn't drunk so much", he moaned.
("Tant de bo no hagués begut tant", va dir gemegant.)

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.
(Desitjaria que vinguessis a la festa demà.)

I wish you were coming to the party tomorrow.
(Desitjaria que vinguessis a la festa demà.)

If only you'd come to the party tomorrow.
(Desitjaria que vinguessis a la festa demà.)

If only you were coming to the party tomorrow.
(Desitjaria que vinguessis a la festa demà.)

Jo wishes you'd answer her email.
(La Jo desitjaria que contestessis el seu missatge.)