How to Use "I Wish" in English Do you have time for a 5-minute grammar lesson? I hope so! This is a simple yet really useful rule that all learners need to know. Let’s get started. Using "I Wish" Making a wish about the presentI wish / If Only + Past TenseI wish I had blue eyes! Making a wish about the pastI wish / If Only + Past Perfect TenseI wish I had left school earlier Your homework! A genie has visited you! In the comments below, write down 3 wishes. 1. A wish about the present2. A wish about the past3. A wish about someone else