What is used after wish. Using "I wish" in English

I wish design
The construction I wish is a complex sentence, like all conditional sentences.
I wish is always the main offer, everything else is a subordinate arrangement, joined by that.
UNION IN PRACTICE that DOWN!
Meaning:
1) In the usual dictionary meaning I wish, used in dictionary constructions. I wish you luck, I wish you success, I wish you happy Birthday.

2) If you want to wish something, then use the construction.
To wish smb smth

A) I wish you luck at your exam - I wish you good luck in your exams.
b) She wished me happy holidays - She wished me a happy weekend.

Express regret that something is not the way you want.

3) IF WE REGRET ABOUT SOMETHING IN PRESENT THEN WE USE THE FOLLOWING TIMES:
PAST SIMPLE
PAST COUNTINUOS(Duration)

Education Formula:I wish+S+V2(Ved)

- If in English the sentence is positive, then it is translated into Russian as negative.
In the diagram, it looks like this:
I WISH…ASTERMINATION (+) SORRY….NEGATION (-)
I WISH…DENIATION (-)SORRY….ASTERMINATION(+)

Examples
a) I wish he had a driving license - It's a pity that he has No driver's license.
Explanation:

past simple Present tense, i.e. RIGHT NOW
b) I wish it was not snowing now - It's a pity that it's snowing now.
Explanation:

- Usage of time: in this sentence we use Past Continuous as we regret to speak in Present tense,those RIGHT NOW

3) IF OUR REGORTS CONCERN PAST EVENTS THEN WE USE: PAST PERFECT
Education Formula:I wish+S+had V3(Ved)

Examples
a) I wish I had come to your wedding. Too bad I didn't come to your wedding.
Explanation:
- The English sentence is affirmative, therefore it is translated into Russian as negative.
- Usage of time: in this sentence we use past perfect as we regret to speak in past tense.
b) I wish I had not called him yesterday. I regret calling him yesterday.
- The English sentence is negative, so it is translated into Russian as affirmative.
- Usage of time: in this sentence we use past perfect as we regret to speak in past tense.

4) EXPRESSIONS OF GREAT AND DISAPPOINTMENT IN ENGLISH USING MODAL VERBS
- I wish I could not do smth - regret that he cannot do in the present.
- I wish I could have done smth - regret that he cannot do in the past.

Examples
a) I wish I could stay with you - it's a pity that I can't stay with you.
b) I wish I could have given you a lift - sorry that I couldn't let you down

5) IF YOU WANT TO EXPRESS DISSATISFACTION, "WHEN IS THIS EVERYTHING WILL END..."
6) IN THE MEANING I SO WANTED, the action in the subordinate clause refers to the future - EXPRESS A STRONG REQUEST.
Education Formula:I wish+S+would+V
Examples
a) I wish you would treat me better - I would like you to treat me better.
b) I wish you would not sing in the bath - I would like you not to sing in the bath.

Offers from “I wish” is a rather difficult topic, but everything falls into place if you properly understand the meaning of these wish-turns. To do this, you must definitely know what is, and, because the sentences with I wish considered in this article are a kind of conditional sentences.

Meaning of sentences with I Wish

Verb to wish means “to wish, to want”, but sentences with I wish often translated as "I'm sorry that...".

For example:

I wish I had a million dollars. - It's a pity that I don't have a million dollars.

What's with the "sorry"? The fact is that such sentences express not just wishes, but namely wishes with a touch of regret that the desired does not correspond to reality (in the present tense), did not come true (in the past) or will not come true (in the future).

In Russian, they correspond to sentences like “I would like it to be like this, but, alas, it is like that” or sentences with “sorry”: “It’s a pity that it didn’t work out that way” - the meaning is approximately the same.

Actually, the proposal about a million dollars can be translated as follows:

I would like to me to have a million dollars! (but alas, I don't have it)

It won't be a mistake. This translation would be wrong:

I wish I had a million dollars.

This option is not suitable because it no hint of regret, only a wish, an expression of will.

Sentences with I wish express a feeling familiar to every person: regret about something not done, not fulfilled, not realized, not realized. Since we all, to be honest, often experience such regrets, turns with I wish in speech are used quite often - more often than we would like.

Offers with I wish are a kind of conditional. As in conditionals, they consist of a main part (I wish) and a subordinate clause. It is the subordinate part that affects the meaning of the expression.

Of course, in the main part there can be not only the first person, but also the second and third: You wish, She\He wishes, but for simplicity we will take examples only with the first person.

Here are the options for offers with I wish.

Summary table of sentences with I wish in English

main part	Subordinate condition, meaning of the sentence	Example
I wish	Regret about something not done, not existing in the present, less often in the future.	I wish I had a phone. Too bad I don't (now) have a phone. I wish I had (now) a phone (but I don't).
	Regret for an action taking place in the present. Less often in the future.	I wish it wasn't raining now. Too bad it's raining right now. I wish it wasn't raining now.
	Regret about something that happened in the past. About what happened just like that, and not otherwise.	I wish I had changed my mind. I wish I had changed my mind (in the past). Wish I could change my mind then (in the past, but it's too late)
	Regret about something that happened in the past. That there was no way to change it.	I wish I could have saved them. Too bad I couldn't save them. I wish I could save them.
	I + in the beginning form Irritable, impatient desire to change some action in the future.	I wish you would stop being lazy. When you stop being lazy. Too bad you can't stop being lazy.

I wish I did it: it's a pity that this is not / this is not so (in the present, less often in the future)

Sentence scheme: I wish + Past Simple.

If time is used in the subordinate part, the meaning of the expression is: there is (or will be) some unpleasant situation, and I would very much like it to be different, but this impossible. More often than not, such proposals refer to the present tense.

For example, a man found himself on a desert island without matches, he exclaims:

I wish I had matches!

It means that:

He has no matches.
They have nowhere to come from, the situation cannot be corrected.
He is very sorry that paragraphs 1 and 2.

Such similar phrases can be translated into Russian in two (at least) ways: using "it's a pity" and “I would like, I would like”. In textbooks, as a rule, the option with “sorry” is given. This “sorry” puts many into a stupor, because:

firstly, it is not entirely clear what the “sorry” has to do with it, if in the original wish(want, wish)
secondly, it is not clear why the denial appears in the Russian translation.

It will become clearer if we compare the two versions of the translation: their meaning is the same, just the forms of expression of the same thought are different.

I wish I had matches!

It's a pity that I don't have matches! (and probably won't)

I would like to so that I have matches! (but where do they come from?)

The option with “sorry” is found in textbooks more often, because it more accurately reflects the main semantic content of the phrase: regret. Whereas the option with “wanting” can be mistaken for not regret, but for wish:

I wish I had matches! (bring me matches!) wish.

It's not like this at all:

Oh, what a pity that I don’t have matches (I should have grabbed them, but who knew ...) - regret.

Meanwhile, it is not difficult to confuse these two options without delving into them. Therefore, the authors of textbooks prefer the option with “sorry” - here you certainly can’t confuse anything.

Where did the denial come from?

Please note: when we translate wish literally, as “to want”, subordinate clauses in the English version and in the Russian translation are either both affirmative or both negative:

I wish I HAD matches. (approved) - I would like to have WERE matches. (approved)

I wish I DIDN'T have headache. (negative) - I wish I had NOT SICK head. (neg.)

But when we translate the phrase, inserting “sorry”, in the Russian version the subordinate clause turns out:

negative, if in English is affirmative,
affirmative if in English is negative.

I wish I HAD matches. (approved) - It's a pity that I have NO matches. (approved)

I wish I DIDN'T have a headache. (neg.) - It's a pity that I have HURTS head. (neg.)

This is required by the logic of the Russian language. If you do not “turn over” the verb in the Russian translation, then the meaning will change to the exact opposite: “It is a pity that my head does NOT hurt”.

This is where many get confused, because you have to “turn over” the sentence in your mind. If it’s difficult for you, just remember that the same phrase can be translated without shifters if you use “would like”:

I wish I HAD matches. - I would like to have WERE matches.

I wish I DIDN'T have a headache. - I would like to have NOT SICK head.

Other examples of a sentence with the construction I wish + Past Simple:

I was asked a difficult question, I don't know how to answer.

I wish I knew the answer.

It's a pity, I do not know the answer.

I would like to me to know the answer.

Note: I wish I knew is, by the way, a common colloquial pattern, like our “How do I know?” or “I don’t know myself”, “I would like to know myself”.

Where is the remote control? - Where's the TV remote?

– I wish I knew. - I would like to know.

When moving, it turned out that the chest of drawers did not fit into the car by just a couple of centimeters, so I would have to order a whole truck.

I wish I had a big car.

It's a pity what i have not big car.

I would like to so that I have a big car (but I have a small one).

And here is an example when a sentence of this type expresses regret about the impossibility of changing something in the future. Such sentences are rare, and they have a direct indication of the future tense, for example, the words tomorrow, next week, in a few days.

I wish I didn't have to work tomorrow.

It's a pity that I have to work tomorrow.

I would like to so I don't have to work tomorrow.

Very often in speech the turnover is used I wish I were - It's a pity that I didn't ... note that when a verb is used in a subordinate clause, it is put in the form were regardless of face. This is required by the norms of grammar, but in modern English, especially in colloquial speech, this rule is very often neglected.

I wish I were with my family I wish I was with my family.

It's a pity what i am now not with my family.

I would like to I have to be with my family now.

I wish I were doing it: sorry that this is not happening (or will not happen)

Sentence scheme: I wish + Past Continuous.

Offers with I wish + Past Continuos the meaning is the same as for sentences with Past Simple, but there are two important features:

It's about an ongoing, ongoing action.

I wish I were lying on a beach now.

It's a pity what i am now don't wallow on the beach (and I'm at work).

I would like to me now lie on the beach (and not to plow in the shop).

2. A sentence with I wish + Past Continuos can mean: “A wish with a touch of regret about some impossible / unlikely action in the future.” In other words: “I wish something happened (in the future)” or “It is a pity that this will not happen.”

I wish you weren't leaving tomorrow.

It's a pity, what do you leaving tomorrow.

I would like to I want you tomorrow not were leaving.

I wish I had done it: it's a pity that it didn't happen (in the past)

Sentence scheme: I wish + Past Perfect

Let me remind you that the meaning of the phrases I wish + Past Simple is that I wish there was something else currently available(less often in the future).

turnover I wish + Past Perfect means the same, but in relation to the past: there was a certain unpleasant situation in the past, and I would very much like it to be different, but this is already irreparable.

Sentences of this type are usually translated into Russian with the word “sorry” or with something identical in meaning; translation from “would like” is not always appropriate.

Example. The man woke up in the hospital. All in plaster. The doctor said that he had been in an accident and was injured because he was not wearing a seat belt. A thought flashed through the bandaged head of the patient:

I wish I had fastened the seatbelt.

It means that:

He did not buckle up (to fasten the seatbelt - fasten the belt).

The subjunctive mood is probably quite difficult to understand at first glance. After all, there are so many secrets, features that are important to catch. In this rule, the verb "wish" looms brightly, which opens up new opportunities for communication.

If we look in the dictionary, we can see that "wish" conveys the meaning to desire. But in some sentences and situations, this verb has a connotation of regret, an unrealistic possibility, unfulfilled hopes. Let's dive a little into the grammar of I wish, which is used in both the subjunctive and indicative moods. In the first case, this verb has the meaning of unreality, regret, sadness, and in the second - wishes.

All uses of I wish

1. In the usual dictionary meaning, I wish is used in constructions: “I wish you luck / I wish you success / I wish you happy birthday”. If you want something for someone wish , then use the structure "to wish smb smth".

I wish you luck at your exam. - I wish you good luck in the exam.

She wished me a happy holiday. She wished me a happy weekend.

2. To express regret about that something is not as we want, it is necessary to use a conditional sentence. Unlike the previous meaning, which is never used with a subordinate clause, in this case it is simply necessary. "I wish I lived in the city." - As you can see, the proposal present, but in English we use the past tense.
So the structure is: I wish + S + V 2 (V ed), although the Past Continuous is sometimes used if it is necessary to emphasize the duration (parallel actions: I regret at the moment the current action in the subordinate clause).

I wish he had a driving license. Too bad he doesn't have a driver's license.

I wish it wasn't snowing now. - It's a pity it's snowing now.

3. If our regrets about past events, then we use the Past Perfect in the subordinate clause, namely: "I wish + S + had + V 3 (V ed)"(action in the subordinate clause precedes I wish - unfortunately).

I wish I had come to your wedding. "I'm sorry I didn't come to your wedding."

I wish I hadn't called him yesterday. — I'm sorry I called him yesterday.

4. You can express disappointment and disappointment in English using modal verbs. So, in the structure "I wish I could do smth" The narrator regrets can't do (actions relate to the present). And here is the construction "I wish I could have done smth" translated - I'm sorry that I couldn't do , and refers to past events.

I wish I could stay with you. "I'm sorry I can't stay with you."

I wish I could have given you a lift. "I'm sorry I couldn't pick you up."

5. But if you want to change the situation, express dissatisfaction, irritation, impatience (when this is over), then you need to use would: "I wish + S + would + V" in the meaning of sorry, I would so like (the action in the subordinate clause refers to the future), in other words, to express an urgent request. It is important to note that the I and the subject in the subordinate clause do not have to match.

I wish you would treat me better. “I wish you would treat me better.

I wish you wouldn't sing in the bath. — I wish you didn't sing in the bathroom. (used for regularly repetitive activities that are annoying)

Translation

The grammar of I wish has few uses that are easy to remember. But, if you carefully read the examples, you noticed the peculiarities of the translation. So, if there is “not” in the subordinate clause, then in Russian it sounds affirmative. And if in English the sentence is positive, then in Russian it is negative.

I wish we were younger. - It's a pity that we not so young.

I wish I had visited him before. - I wish I did not visit him before.

I wish he didn't speak only English. — It's a pity that he He speaks only in English.

I wish I hadn't bought this car. - I'm sorry that I bought this car.

The use of I wish will diversify your speech, make it more lively and expressive. And that means more understandable. Be interesting interlocutors in any language, because the subjunctive mood scares you only at first sight.

As you remember, in English there are three main moods of the verb. These are indicative (Indicative mood), conditional (conditional mood) and imperative mood (imperative mood). The same moods are present in the Russian language. In English, there is also a subjunctive mood or subjunctive mood. Construction I wish + verb and its application in practice

subjunctive mood in English, expresses the speaker's desire for someone to come, do, read, pass an exam, meet, etc. That is, a desire for some kind of action.

What is the purpose of the “I wish + verb” construction?

Indeed, what is this design and why is it here? But it is this grammatical combination that is one of the expressions of the subjunctive mood in English. Because subjunctive mood in English has many constructions, but today we are talking about “ I wish + verb».

This combination translates as I wish that..., I wish that...". For example:

I wish you spoke with Jane about that affair. “I would like you to talk to Jane about that case.
I wish Tom invited all our friends. I want Tom to invite all our friends.

Instead of the pronoun I (I), there can be any other pronoun or name, or noun. For example:

Andrew wishes he read all the books of Mark Twain. Andrew would like to read all the books of Mark Twain.
She wishes she managed to speak with her teacher about her problems in English language. She would like to have time to talk to her teacher about her problems in English.

Construction "I wish + verb" and tenses of verbs

This construction in the subjunctive mood requires a certain tense of the verb after itself in English. Here, dear readers, it is important to remember the following two rules:

First: If I wish refers to the present or future tense, then the next verb after it must be in the simple past tense (Past Simple), or the second form of the verb if it is an irregular verb. Read these offers:

I wish you were here with me. “I want you to be here with me.
my sister wishes they worked more attentively. My sister wants them to work more carefully.

And second: If our construction refers to the past tense or itself in the past tense, that is I wished, then the next verb must be in the past tense (Past Perfect). This case expresses a past action, more often in an unreal, impossible condition. Pay attention to the following suggestions:

John wished he had passed all the exams. - John would like him to pass all the exams (most likely he did not pass them, that's why he would like to).
Martha wishes she had met all her friends. Martha would like to meet all her friends.

IMPORTANT! It must be remembered, friends, that if we use the construction I wish + verb to be, then the verb to be itself takes on the form were, regardless of person and number. For example, read these sentences and translate them:

I wish he were here. “I want him to be here.
Matthew wishes his mother were free on Sunday. Matthew wants his mother to be free on Sunday.
Sandra wishes I were with her on her exam. Sandra wants me to be with her on her exam.

Thus, this rule proves to us that this mood is not just a subjunctive, but a conditional subjunctive. This is our subjunctive mood.
I wish construction and modal verbs

"I wish" and modal verbs

This grammatical thing is great friends with modal verbs. In whatever tense the wish verb is in the present or past, the modal verb that follows is in the simple past tense, that is, in the Past Simple.

It is only important to remember that each modal verb has its own form in the past tense. Pay attention to the following suggestions:

CAN: Andy wishes he could be stronger. Andy wishes he could be stronger.
MAY: Mary wishes she might spoke with her brother before the party. Mary wishes she could talk to her brother before the party.
MUST: We wished we had to be more courageous that day. “We wish we should have been more courageous that day.

The “I wish” design is easy!

This design is very easy to work with. Let's do grammar gymnastics with you! To get started, follow the proposals offered to you, in which various situations are played out. See how our construction and the verbs that follow it behave.

After holidays I am going to visit France. It's a pity I don't know French language. I wish I knew and spoken French. After the holidays I'm going to visit France. It's a pity that I don't know French. I wish I knew and spoke French.
John had shouted a lot. He had been very angry the day before yesterday. But he was sorry he had quarreled with his sister. He wished his sister had forgotten him. John screamed a lot. He was very angry the day before yesterday. But he regretted that he had quarreled with his sister. He wished his sister would forgive him.
What a pity that you did not pass the exam. Your parents would be upset. They wanted you had passed all your exams! What a pity you didn't pass the exam. Your parents will be in despair. They wanted you to pass all your exams!

Now try the following parenthesis opening exercise:

He wishes he (to appoint) vice-minister.
We wished the policeman (to succeed) in finding out the murderer.
We wish our country (to be) more prosperous.

And here are the answers: 1-appointed; 2-had succeeded; 3-were

In this exercise, try to continue the sentences:

I am sorry I have no chance to participate in the contest. I wish I…
He regrets he could not convince us to postpone our trip. He wishes he…
It's a pity she disappointed her parents. She wished she…

If you didn't get it right, here are the answers:

1-I wish I had a chance to participate in the contest; 2-he wishes he convinced us to postpone our trip; 3-she wished she hadn't disappointed her parents

Among the English sentences containing the conditional mood (Comparative Mood), sentences containing the verb wish- "wish".

The subtleties of translation

It would seem that with this meaning of the verb, the construction I wish will simply be a synonym for the expressions I want - "I want" and I would like - "I would like." However, such sentences should not be translated and taken quite literally. Let's look at a few examples:

I wish I hadn't eaten so much.	I'm sorry I ate so much. (literally: "I wish I hadn't eaten so much")
I wish it weren't so cold in my room.	Too bad it's so cold in my room. (or: "I wish my room wasn't so cold")
I wish you were here with me.	It's a pity you're not here with me. (or: "I wish you were here with me")

As can be seen from the above examples, sentences of this kind speak not so much about the desire of the speaker, but about his regret about not being able to get what you want. A pronounced shade of regret is what distinguishes the design I wish from similar expressions with the verb want and the construction would like.

A convenient way to translate sentences containing I wish into Russian is to use the word "It's a pity ..." or the expression "I wish that ...".

This construction is part of a complex sentence, where the main sentence is part I wish , and subordinate - the remainder of the expressed regret. The connection within such a compound sentence is non-union, but sometimes, although very rarely, one can meet the union that after I wish, for example:

When translating with the help of the word “Sorry ...”, do not forget to also change the affirmative subordinate clause to a negative one and vice versa, because we are “sorry” for the current situation, and we “wish” at the same time completely the opposite:

I wish I had known* that Mary was ill.*	I wish I did not know* that Mary was sick.*
I wish I hadn't known* that Mary was ill.*	It's a pity that I found out* that Mary is sick.*
I wish it hadn't been* so cold during the summer.*	Too bad it's summer It was* So cold.*
I wish it had been* cold during the summer.*	Too bad it's summer did not have* cold.*

Wish-Sentences and Conditional Predicate Forms

Depending on what we regret - about the past, present or the impossibility of something in the future, the construction of the verb form in the conditional mood will occur in different ways.

If you have to regret events or state of affairs in the present, then should be used after I w ish verb form or depending on the nature of the action:

I wish I had* a real friend.*	Too bad I don't have a real friend.
I wish it were* possible.*	It's a pitty it's impossible.
I wish we had* something to eat.*	Too bad we don't have anything to eat.
I wish I were watching* that football match now.*	Too bad I don't watch that football game right now.
I wish I knew* some more information about cars.*	Too bad I don't know more information about cars.

Those who are not yet familiar with the topic of conditional sentences and the conditional mood in English should pay special attention to the form of the verb to be - were allowed and even welcomed in conditional sentences when used together with the first and third person singular. In the indicative mood with similar subjects, only the use of the form was was allowed. And although in the conditional mood the use of was is not forbidden, nevertheless, were occurs more frequently.

Character expressions are especially popular I wish I were…

*I wish I were* your boyfriend.	Too bad I'm not your boyfriend.
*I wish I were* in my bedroom with an interesting book.	I would like to be in my bedroom with an interesting book.
*I wish I were* able to speak a foreign language.	It's a pity that I can't speak a foreign language.
*I wish I were* a doctor.	Too bad I'm not a doctor.

In addition, this kind of subordinate clause often uses could (the Past Simple form of the verb can - “to be able, to be able”):

I wishyou could* drive a car.*	Too bad you can't drive.
I wish I could* help you, but I can't.*	I wish I could help you, but I can't.
I wish we could* make our life easier and more interesting.*	It is a pity that we cannot make our life simpler and more interesting.
I wish our pets could* speak.*	Too bad our pets can't talk.

If a person regrets events that happened or didn't happen in the past, then the verb form is used in the subordinate clause:

I wishI hadn't *met* that woman.	I'm sorry I met that woman.
I wish I had learned* to play a musical instrument.*	It is a pity that I did not learn to play a musical instrument.
I wish you hadn't painted* your room red.*	Too bad you painted your room red.
I wish I had taken* my camera with me.*	Too bad I didn't take my camera with me.
I wish those unexpected guests hadn't come* or at least had told they were coming.*	It is a pity that those unexpected guests then arrived and did not even announce that they were coming.

In a situation where the speaker expresses not just regret, but extreme irritation about a phenomenon and wishes for changes to occur, the form is used in the subordinate clause would + the Infinitive without to :

The phone is ringing for some minutes. I'm annoyed. I wish someone would answer* it.*	The phone rings for several minutes. It annoys me. Well, at least someone answered it.
I wish you would do* something instead of just sitting and doing nothing.*	Too bad you don't do anything instead of just sitting around doing nothing.
I wish the weather would change. I am so tired of the rain.	If only the weather would change. I'm so tired of the rain.
I wish you would stop* smoking.*	It's a pity, that you don't stop smoking.
I wish some people would stop* gossiping about me.*	Too bad some people can't stop gossiping about me.

It is very important to pay attention to the fact that would in such sentences cannot be used with verbs denoting states - would must be followed by a verb characterizing some change or action. Compare:

action, change	condition
I wish George would come. / If only George would come.	I wish George were here.(I wish George would be here) / It is a pity that George is not here.
I wish somebody would buy me a car. / If only someone would buy me a car.	I wish I had a car. (I wish I would have a car. ) / I wish I had a car.
I wish it would stop snowing. / Well, if only the snow would stop.	I wish it weren't so snowy. ( I wish it wouldn't be so snowy), It is a pity that so much snow.

Design I wish…wouldn’t… often represents a complaint about the things that people do constantly, regularly, for example:

I wish you wouldn't keep* interrupting me.*	I would like you to stop interrupting me.
I wish you wouldn't* t constantly drive so fast.*	I wish you didn't drive so fast all the time.
I wish Jack wouldn't* always leave the door open.*	I wish Jack didn't always leave the door open.
I wish you wouldn't complain* all the time.*	I wish you didn't complain all the time.
I wish people wouldn't drop* litter in the street.*	I wish people would stop throwing trash in the street.

Schematic table of Wish-Sentences

Above is a sentence with the I wish construction, but sometimes a schematic representation of the rule in the form of a memo table helps to quickly learn, and most importantly, remember it better.

I wish+ Past Simple / Continuous

regret about an unreal event in the present

I wish my friends were here to help me.

I wish we could go there together.

It is a pity that my friends are not here, they would help me.

Too bad we can't go there together.

I wish + Past Perfect

regret about something that happened or didn't happen in the past

I wish I hadn't told you about it.

I wish that disaster hadn't happened.

I'm sorry I told you about it.

Too bad that disaster happened.

I wish + would + the Infinitive withoutto(Future in the Past)

annoyance at the lack of change in the current situation or irritation at the constantly repeated action

I wish I would stop losing things.

I wish you wouldn't tell me all your stories for so many times.

How I wish I could stop losing things.

I wish you didn't tell me all your stories over and over again.

If only

The construction I wish in English grammar has a synonymous structure - if onl y:

if onl y used to express a strong desire to change the status quo. In fact, this structure means the same as I wish but stronger and more emotional. This construction can also be used to express an unrealistic condition and wish in relation to the present, past or future:

regret about the current situation

if only + Past Past Simple / Continuous

If only I weren't so exhausted.

If only it weren't raining so hard.

If only I hadn't been so screwed up.

If only it wasn't raining so hard.

regret about a situation related to the past

if only + past perfect

if only you hadn't decided to go by plane.

If only I had listened to what my parents had been telling me.

If you had not decided then to fly by plane.

If only I'd listened to what my parents were saying to me.