Second and third conditional
I wish and if only
Second conditional
We use it to talk about hypothetical situations in the present (usually impossible).
Condition
Result
IF +PAST SIMPLE
WOULD / COULD +BASE FORM
If iwon the lottery, i would buy a new house
If ihad a phone with me, i could text her
You wouldn’t be so tired if you went to bed earlier.
if only and wish are used with the second conditional to describe a regret or desire to
change some situation in the present.
I WISH / IF ONLY +PAST SIMPLE
If only Ihad a phone with me, I would text her.
I wish Ihad a phone with me, so I could text her.
