We use wish/if only + past simple to say we would like a present situation to be different: I wish I had more Pokemon cards (because at the moment I don't have enough). If only I was rich (I am not).
We use wish/if only + would to say we wany something to happen: I wish my car would start (I can't start it, but I want it to start). If only the lesson would end (I want it to end, but I am still in class). We also use wish/if only + would when we want someone to start doing something that they are not doing: If only you'd listen to me! or we want someone to stop doing something which annoys us: I wish you wouldn't use my Xbox without asking!
We use wish/if only + past perfect to talk about things which we are unhappy about, but which happened in the past: He wishes he had bought an Xbox instead of a PS4 (he did buy a PS4, but thinks an Xbox would be better).
If only means I wish. When talking about other people we use he wishes, they wish, etc. We use if only when we feel something very strongly. If not, we use I wish. We use hope when we want something to happen or to be true, and there is usually a good reason to think this: I hope you have a good holiday. She hopes her boyfriend will buy her an Xbox for Christmas. He hopes that the new Spider-Man movie will be really good.
We can use hope when we want something to be true about the past, but we don't know if it is true: I hope you bought the new Halo game (I don't know if she did). I hope you had a fantastic holiday last week (I don't know if you had a fantastic holiday).
- Optimistic about something? Use hope.
- Pessimistic about something happening, or sure it won't happen? Use wish.
- Talking about a present situation? Use wish + past simple: I wish I had an Xbox.
- Talking about something you would like to happen or something you would like someone to do? Use wish + would: I wish you wouldn't spend so much time playing video games.
- Talking about past time? Use wish + past perfect: I wish I hadn't bought No Man's Sky at full retail price.
And, as always, here are some links to exercises you can do:
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