Grammar : Wish / If Only

The word wish is similar in meaning to the expression would like ; I wish Ihad a big house = I would like to have a big house.Its main uses is to express regret that things are not different. It is possible to use wish in this way to talk about both the present/future and the past.Wish/if only + past tense
To express regret about the present ( to say the he would like something to be different )
Example : I wish I had a car ( I do not have a car ) ; if only I were a president ( I am not a president)
Were is used instead of was after wish and if only, especially in a more formal style

Wish/ if only + would
When we want something to stop happening, or we want something different to happen.
Example : I wish it would stop raining : if only you would stop complaining.

Wish /if only + past perfect
To express regret that something happened or did not happened in the past.
Example : if only you had explained the situation to me (you did not explain the situation to me.