Thursday, April 14

If only

I wish...=   If only...! (more emphatic)
Ojalá    =   Si solo/ Ay, si...
 
Uses:
1. If only + Subject + Past Tense = Present
    If only I knew more people. 
    Si solo conociese/ra a más personas
    If only I was/were better-looking! (were: more formal)
     ¡Ay si fuera más guapo/a!
 
2.  Would + Infinitive = Future 
    If only it would stop raining, we could go out. 
    Solo si parase/ra de llover, nosotros podríamos salir.
    If only somebody would smile!
    ¡Ay si alguien quisiera/ese sonreir!

3. Past Perfect (had + past participle) = Past
    If only she hadn't told the police, everything would have been all right.
    Solamente si ella no se lo hubiera contado a la policia, todo podría haber estado bien.

Bibliography
Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage, 1998. Oxford. Page.253 
  

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