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English grammar

Wish/If Only + would (Complaints)

Updated 27 Oct 2026 5 min read LingoLadder Editorial Team
Cover: Wish and if only plus would — I wish you would listen, I wish it would stop raining
Short answer

Use wish/if only + would + base verb to complain about someone's annoying behaviour, or to want a change you can't control: 'I wish you would listen', 'I wish it would stop raining'. It points at a changeable action, not a fixed state.

On this page11 sections · tap to jump
  1. 01The rule
  2. 02Forms
  3. 03Example sentences
  4. 04Common mistakes
  5. 05A short conversation
  6. 06Usage notes
  7. 07How to say it
  8. 08Compared with…
  9. 09Practice
  10. 10Quiz
  11. 11Recap cheat-sheet

Level: B2. Wish + would is the grammar of complaint. You use it when someone keeps doing something that annoys you, or when you want an outside situation to change but can’t make it happen yourself. “I wish you would listen” is a polite-but-pointed way of saying please stop ignoring me.

The rule

In the last lesson, wish + past simple described an unreal state now (“I wish I had a car”). This lesson is different: wish/if only + would + base verb points at a changeable action or behaviour, almost always someone else’s. It carries a feeling of irritation, impatience, or longing for change.

There are two main uses. First, annoying habits: “I wish my neighbour would turn the music down,” “I wish you wouldn’t interrupt me.” You are complaining that the behaviour keeps happening and you want it to stop or change. Second, a change you can’t control: “I wish it would stop raining,” “I wish the bus would come.” You want an outside event to happen, but it is not in your power.

Two limits matter. The result must be a changeable action, not a fixed state — so “I wish she would be taller” is wrong (height isn’t a behaviour), while “I wish she would call more often” is fine. And the subject after would is normally not you: you can’t logically complain to yourself to change, so “I wish I would stop” sounds odd. For your own behaviour or states, drop would and use wish + past simple instead: “I wish I didn’t bite my nails.”

Forms

Use Pattern Example
annoying habit wish + subject + would + base verb I wish you would listen.
negative habit wish + subject + wouldn’t + base verb I wish he wouldn’t shout.
uncontrollable change wish + it/they + would + base verb I wish it would stop raining.
emphasis if only + would + base verb If only they would hurry up!
your own state (use instead) wish + past simple I wish I had more patience.

The subject after wish and the subject after would are usually different people: “I wish you would…”, “I* wish they would…”. The contraction wouldn’t is common and natural in speech and writing.

Example sentences

  1. I wish you would listen to me.
    A complaint: you keep not listening.
  2. I wish he would call me back.
    I want him to do something he isn't doing.
  3. I wish they would stop making noise.
    An annoying habit I want to end.
  4. I wish you wouldn't interrupt me.
    Negative: please stop this behaviour.
  5. I wish my sister would tidy her room.
    A repeated habit I want changed.
  6. I wish it would stop raining.
    A change I can't control (the weather).
  7. I wish the bus would come.
    Impatience about an outside event.
  8. I wish my computer would work properly.
    Longing for a thing to behave differently.
  9. I wish you would make up your mind.
    Frustration at someone's indecision.
  10. I wish he wouldn't leave his dishes in the sink.
    A specific annoying habit.
  11. I wish the neighbours would turn the music down.
    A complaint about others' behaviour.
  12. I wish you would drive more slowly.
    Asking for a change in how someone acts.
  13. If only he would apologise.
    An emphatic wish for someone's action.
  14. If only it would snow this winter.
    An emphatic wish for an outside change.
  15. I wish people would recycle more.
    A wish about others' general behaviour.
  16. I wish the government would do something about it.
    A change by others, out of my control.
  17. I wish you wouldn't bite your nails.
    A complaint about a habit, to another person.
  18. I wish the kids would go to sleep.
    Longing for a change in behaviour now.
  19. I wish my phone would stop freezing.
    A device I want to behave differently.
  20. If only the train would hurry up.
    Impatience with an outside event.
  21. I wish she would text me when she's late.
    A habit I want her to start.
  22. I wish the rain would hold off until we get home.
    A hoped-for change I can't control.

Common mistakes

  • ❌ I wish I would stop eating junk food. → ✅ I wish I didn’t eat so much junk food. Don’t use wish + would for your own behaviour; use wish + past simple.
  • ❌ I wish you would be taller. → ✅ (not possible) Would needs a changeable action, not a fixed state like height; there is no natural fix with would.
  • ❌ I wish you would to listen. → ✅ I wish you would listen. After would, use the base verb with no to.
  • ❌ I wish it will stop raining. → ✅ I wish it would stop raining. After wish, use would, never will.
  • ❌ I wish he would called me. → ✅ I wish he would call me. Would takes the base verb, not a past form.
  • ❌ I wish I had more patience → I wish I would have more patience. → ✅ I wish I had more patience. For your own state, use wish + past simple, not wish + would.

A short conversation

A: The music next door is so loud again. B: I know. I wish they would turn it down. A: And I wish you wouldn’t just sit there — say something! B: Fine. If only they would answer the door when I knock.

Usage notes

  • Base verb after would. Always would + base verb with no to and no ending: would call, would stop, wouldn’t shout.
  • Action, not state. Wish + would needs a changeable action or event. For a state (be rich, be tall, know French), use wish + past simple: “I wish I were rich.”
  • Usually someone else. The natural subject after would is another person or an outside thing, because the pattern expresses a wish for them to change.
  • It and they for outside events. Weather, machines, transport and institutions take would too: “I wish it would clear up,” “I wish the lift would work.”
  • if only for extra force. “If only you would listen!” is stronger and more emotional than the plain wish version, but the grammar is identical.

How to say it

The would in a complaint is usually unstressed and reduced, which can make it hard to hear.

  • would → weak /wəd/ or /d/. In “I wish you would listen”, would is often squeezed to “wud” or even just /d/ on the pronoun (“you’d listen”). Stress the main verb (listen), not would.
  • wouldn’t /ˈwʊdnt/. Say “wood-nt” in one beat; the l is silent. Keep the /t/ light but present so it isn’t mistaken for would.
  • wish /wɪʃ/. Short i as in fish, soft sh.
  • stress for feeling. Complaints often stress the annoying action: “I wish you would LISTEN.” That stress is what carries the irritation.

Compared with…

  • Wish + past simple / past perfect is for states and regrets, not complaints about behaviour. Compare “I wish I had a dog” (a state I want now) and “I wish I had studied” (a past regret) with “I wish you would walk the dog” (a changeable action I want from someone else). Use would only for the action/change meaning, never for your own state. See Wish and If Only (Regrets and Wishes).

Recap card for the English wish plus would lesson showing complaints about others and changes you cannot control

Quick recap before you practise.

Practice

Practice

Wish + would practice

Try each one, then press Check. No sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.

1 Choose the correct complaint about someone's habit.
Show answer

I wish you would listen. — wish + subject + would + base verb: would listen.

Hint: would + base verb

Show answer

would stop — An uncontrollable change uses wish + would + base verb: would stop.

Hint: wouldn't + base verb

Show answer

wouldn't interrupt — A negative complaint uses wouldn't + base verb: wouldn't interrupt.

4 Put the words in order to make a complaint.

Show answer

I wish they would be quiet — wish + they + would + base verb (be quiet is a changeable behaviour here).

5 Match each wish to the right pattern.

  • I wish you would reply.
  • I wish I had a bigger flat.
  • I wish it would stop snowing.
  • I wish I spoke Italian.
Show answer
  • I wish you would reply. → complaint about behaviour (would)
  • I wish I had a bigger flat. → my own state (past simple)
  • I wish it would stop snowing. → change I can't control (would)
  • I wish I spoke Italian. → my own ability (past simple)

Use would for others' actions/changes; use the past simple for your own states.

6 Which sentence is correct?
Show answer

I wish I were more patient. — For your own state, use wish + past (were), not wish + would.

Quiz

Check yourself

Wish + would quiz

12 questions · pick an answer and you'll see straight away if it's right.

0/12 0 answered
  1. 1Complete: 'I wish you ___ to me.' (complaint)
    Show answer

    would listen — wish + would + base verb: would listen.

  2. 2Which sentence is correct?
    Show answer

    I wish it would stop raining. — A change you can't control uses wish + would + base verb.

  3. 3Which sentence is WRONG?
    Show answer

    I wish I would exercise. — Don't use wish + would for your own behaviour; say 'I wish I exercised'.

  4. 4Complete the negative complaint: 'I wish you ___ your dishes in the sink.'
    Show answer

    wouldn't leave — A negative complaint uses wouldn't + base verb: wouldn't leave.

  5. 5Why is 'I wish you would be taller' wrong?
    Show answer

    height is a fixed state, not a changeable action — Wish + would needs a changeable action; a fixed state like height doesn't work.

  6. 6Choose the best sentence for your OWN state.
    Show answer

    I wish I had more free time. — For your own state, use wish + past simple: I wish I had more free time.

  7. 7What feeling does 'I wish you would make up your mind' express?
    Show answer

    Impatience / annoyance — Wish + would about someone's behaviour expresses impatience or annoyance.

  8. 8Complete: 'If only the bus ___ come!'
    Show answer

    would — 'If only + would + base verb' for an outside change you can't control.

  9. 9Which is a correct complaint about others' general behaviour?
    Show answer

    I wish people would recycle more. — wish + would + base verb: would recycle.

  10. Show answer

    stop — After 'would', use the base verb with no 'to' and no ending: stop.

  11. 11Correct the error: 'I wish he would to apologise.'
    Show answer

    I wish he would apologise. — After 'would', use the base verb with no 'to': would apologise.

  12. 12When should you use 'wish + past simple' instead of 'wish + would'?
    Show answer

    For your own state or feeling — Your own state or feeling takes wish + past simple, not wish + would.

Recap cheat-sheet

Use Pattern Example
annoying habit (others) wish + would + base verb I wish you would listen
negative habit wish + wouldn’t + base verb I wish he wouldn’t shout
change you can’t control wish + it/they + would I wish it would stop
your own state wish + past simple (not would) I wish I had patience

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A1 30 topics · 30 ready
  1. 01 Verb 'To Be' in the Present (am, is, are)
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  27. 27 Would Like: Polite Wants and Offers
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  29. 29 Past Simple of 'To Be' (was / were)
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  6. 36 Going To: Plans and Predictions
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  8. 38 Present Continuous for Future Arrangements
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  11. 41 Present Perfect vs Past Simple
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  14. 69 Defining Relative Clauses (who, which, that)
  15. 70 Non-Defining Relative Clauses (with commas)
  16. 71 Gerunds and Infinitives: Full Verb Patterns
  17. 72 Verbs Where -ing vs to Changes Meaning
  18. 73 Future Continuous (will be -ing)
  19. 74 So and Such (Emphasis)
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  25. 80 Indirect Questions (Can you tell me...)
  26. 81 Make, Let, Allow, Help (Causatives Intro)
  27. 82 Be Used To and Get Used To (+ -ing)
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  1. 83 Narrative Tenses for Storytelling
  2. 84 Past Perfect Continuous (had been -ing)
  3. 85 Mixed Conditionals
  4. 86 Wish and If Only (Regrets and Wishes)
  5. 87 Wish/If Only + would (Complaints) You are here
  6. 88 Passive Voice: All Tenses and Modals
  7. 89 Reporting Passive (It is said that / is said to)
  8. 90 Causative: Have/Get Something Done
  9. 91 Reduced Relative Clauses (Participles)
  10. 92 Modals of Deduction: Present and Past
  11. 93 Needn't Have vs Didn't Need To
  12. 94 Future Perfect (will have done)
  13. 95 Participle Clauses (-ing / -ed / having done)
  14. 96 Advanced Comparatives (far/much + er, the more)
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  17. 99 Intensifiers and Adverbs of Degree
  18. 100 Advanced Contrast: despite, in spite of, however
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  21. 103 Verb + Preposition and Adjective + Preposition
  22. 104 Relative Clauses: whose, where, when, quantifier + whom
  23. 105 Subject-Verb Agreement: Tricky Cases
  24. 106 Emphatic Do (I do like it)
  25. 107 Would for Past Habits (Formal Narrative)
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  1. 108 Inversion with Negative Adverbials
  2. 109 Inversion in Conditionals (Had I known)
  3. 110 Cleft Sentences (It was... / What I need is...)
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