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Conditionals

Wish and If Only

Expressing regrets and desires.

Explanation

Wish plus the past simple describes an unreal present, wish plus the past perfect describes a regret about the past, and wish plus would expresses annoyance at someone else behaviour.

Examples

I wish I spoke Italian.
She wishes she had taken the job.
I wish he would stop interrupting.

Common mistakes

I wish I speak Italian.
I wish I spoke Italian.
Unreal present takes the past simple.
She wishes she would have taken the job.
She wishes she had taken the job.
Regret about the past takes the past perfect.

More Conditionals

Mixed Conditionals

Past condition with a present result, or the reverse.

Unless, Provided That, As Long As

Ways to state conditions without using if.

Conditionals: Zero, First, Second, Third

Four patterns for real and unreal conditions.