Ch 5

Hypothetical Meaning

I wish · If only · Would rather

B2 · FCE Cambridge

What we'll cover

Three structures for unreal situations & regrets

1

I wish
I wish I had more time

2

If only
If only they would stop!

3

Would rather
I'd rather you didn't smoke

Remember: These structures describe situations that are NOT REAL — use past tenses for present meaning!

Wish — about the PRESENT

Something you want to be different right now

wish + past simple → I wish I had a car

wish + were (formal) → I wish I were taller

Use past simple after 'wish' to talk about an unreal present — something you want but don't have. 'Was' and 'were' are both acceptable; 'were' is more formal.

I wish I had more free time.

I don't have it

I wish I was taller.

I'm not — regret reality

She wishes she spoke French.

She doesn't speak it

Watch out: Don't use 'wish + would' when the subject is the same as the wisher — "I wish I would go" is wrong.

Wish — about the PAST

Regret — something you wish had happened differently

wish + past perfect → I wish I had studied

wish + past perfect (passive) → I wish I had been invited

Use past perfect after 'wish' for past regret — something you didn't do (but wish you had) or something that happened (but you wish hadn't).

I wish I had studied more for the exam.

Regret — I didn't

I wish I had been invited to the party.

Passive regret

I wish we hadn't bought that car.

Regret a past action

Watch out: "I wish I have done" is wrong — always use past perfect (had + past participle) for past regrets.

Wish + would — about other people

A complaint about someone else's behaviour

wish + would + infinitive → I wish you would stop

wish + wouldn't + infinitive → I wish she wouldn't complain

Use 'wish + would' to complain about someone's annoying behaviour. Can also be used with things: "I wish it would stop raining."

I wish my sister would stop smoking.

Annoying — she still does

I wish it would stop raining.

With things — habit / state

I wish you wouldn't interrupt me.

Wish someone to stop

Watch out: You cannot say "I wish I would…" — use 'wish + past simple' for yourself, 'wish + would' for others.

If only — stronger feelings

Same structures as 'wish', but more emphatic

if only + past simple → If only I knew!

if only + past perfect → If only I had listened

if only + would → If only they would stop!

'If only' works exactly like 'wish' but expresses stronger emotion — regret, frustration, longing. Often used with an exclamation mark.

If only I were rich!

Present — strong wish

If only I had known earlier.

Past regret

If only he would listen!

Frustration with others

Watch out: 'If only' is always followed by a subject + past tense. NOT "If only to know".

Would rather — preferences

Saying what you want someone (or something) to do

'd rather + subject + past simple → present or future preference

'd rather + subject + past perfect → past preference / regret

Different subject → past tense. Same subject → infinitive ("I'd rather stay home").

I'd rather you didn't tell anyone.

Present — different subject

Would you rather I asked someone else?

Question — future preference

I'd rather you had asked me first.

Past regret — diff subject

Watch out: Same subject → infinitive. "I'd rather STAY here" (not "I'd rather I stayed here").

Present vs Past — quick comparison

Past tense for unreal present · past perfect for past

Present / Future

I wish I had a car.

If only I spoke French.

I'd rather you stayed home.

Past

I wish I had bought a car.

If only I had learned French.

I'd rather you had stayed home.

Common mistakes — FCE Traps

Errors that appear in Cambridge exam writing

I wish I can fly

→

I wish I could fly

Use past form after 'wish'

I wish I have studied

→

I wish I had studied

Past regret → past perfect

I wish I would win

→

I wish I could win

Can't use 'would' about yourself

If only I would know

→

If only I knew

Same rule as wish

I'd rather you don't go

→

I'd rather you didn't go

Different subject → past tense

I'd rather I stayed home

→

I'd rather stay home

Same subject → infinitive

Summary

Wish — present

wish + past simple

I wish I had a car.

Wish — past

wish + past perfect

I wish I had studied.

Wish — other people

wish + would + infinitive

I wish she would listen.

If only

Same forms, stronger feeling

If only I were taller!

Rather (same subj)

'd rather + infinitive

I'd rather stay home.

Rather (diff subj)

'd rather + past simple / perfect

I'd rather you didn't smoke.