Displaying 11-14 of 14 result(s)
We can make second and third conditionals more emphatic by placing only after if:
If (only) I knew the answer, I'd tell you.If (only) I had revised more, I would have done better on my exam.
If only can be replaced with I wish, and the main clause can be omitted:
I wish I knew the answer.I wish I had revised more.
Patterns introduced with I wish... are used to express wishes about the present, past and future.
Unreal tenses after wish / if only, would rather / would sooner, it's (high) time and as if / as though do not change in indirect speech:
wish / if only + past perfect subjunctive
This pattern is used to express wishes or regrets about the past:
wish / if only + past subjunctive
This pattern is used to express wishes or regrets about the present:
For timeline diagrams, quotes and exercises, check out our e-book The Grammaring Guide to English Grammar
