Wish and if only

The point

Wish about a present that is not true uses the past form: I wish I knew. Wish about a past regret uses had plus the participle: I wish I had known. If only follows the same pattern. Do not use the present after wish for a wish about now.

Form and use

Wish and if only set up a situation that is not true, or a past that you regret. They do not use a present verb for a present wish. Hope is different: hope can take a present or a future for something you still treat as possible.

Present unreal: I wish I had more time. I wish I were at the meeting. If only she were here. Past regret: I wish I had checked the date. If only we had left earlier. She wishes she had not sent it. Future annoyance, when you want someone else to change: I wish you would stop interrupting. If only they would reply. Would here is about another person's behavior, not your own plan. I wish I would is usually unnatural.

The past form after wish does not mean past time. I wish I knew means I do not know now. I wish I were means I am not. Only had plus the participle moves the wish into the past. Negatives sit inside that same frame: I wish I had not agreed. If only follows the same three patterns as wish.

Hope versus wish, in one line: I hope she replies treats a reply as possible. I wish she replied would be the unreal present, meaning she does not reply. For a past mistake, do not say I wish I checked. Say I wish I had checked. Were, not was, is the careful form after wish and if only with I, he, she, and it.

Don't translate it like this

Knew is the unreal present. Know would state a fact.

Short examples