‘If only’ can also be used with ‘would / wouldn’t’ to criticize another person. If only the boss would listen to my proposals! If only Jeff would consider hiring Peter. If only Susan wouldn't spend so
‘If only’ can also be used with ‘would / wouldn’t’ to criticize another person. If only the boss would listen to my proposals! If only Jeff would consider hiring Peter. If only Susan wouldn't spend so much time online.
If only' statements generally imply some sort of solution. Here are some of the example sentences with the implied solutions provided. If only there were more job opportunities! - I could find a better job. If only Jeff would consider hiring Peter. - He's the perfect person for the job. If only Susan wouldn't spend so much time online. - It can't be healthy for her.
It’s Time
Use ‘it’s time’ with the past simple to talk about an action which finally is taking place, or should take place soon. It always refers to an action or state that should have taken place before the moment of speaking.
It’s time you began working on your own.
It's time we changed to a new internet service provider.
Use ‘would rather’ + past perfect to express hypothetical situations in the past:
They’d rather they hadn’t spent so much on the marketing campaign.
Mary would rather she had chosen a different position.
Wish
We use ‘wish’ to talk about situations we’d like to change. In this sense, ‘wish’ is very similar to the second or third conditionals because it poses an imaginary situation.
