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if only

We can use If only …! to say that we would like things to be different. It means the same as I wish … (see here), but is more emphatic. The clause with if only often stands alone, without a main clause. Tense use is as follows:

Past to talk about the present​

  • If only I knew more people!
  • If only I was better-looking!

We can use were instead of was (see here).

  • If only your father were here!

would + infinitive (without to) to talk about the future​

  • If only it would stop raining, we could go out.
  • If only somebody would smile!

Past perfect to talk about the past​

  • If only she hadn’t told the police, everything would have been all right.