The verb-first wish
A wish about something that is not true, or did not happen, can start with the conjugated verb in the Konjunktiv II. The rest of the sentence keeps normal order, and a particle in the Mittelfeld marks it as a wish. For the past, use hätte or wäre with the participle.
Present and past
Hätte ich doch mehr Zeit!
If only I had more time!
Present: a wish about now.
Wäre er doch geblieben!
If only he had stayed!
Past: regret about something that did not happen.
Hätte ich das bloß gewusst!
If only I'd known!
Würde sie doch endlich anrufen!
I wish she'd finally call!
würde is common when the wish is about someone else's action.
Choosing the particle
The particle sets the tone. Without one, the sentence usually needs strong emphasis to work as a wish. Combined, doch comes first: doch nur, doch bloß.
Three particles, three tones
| Particle | Tone | Example |
|---|---|---|
| doch | Longing, a sigh | Wäre doch schon Freitag! |
| nur | Urgent, focused on this one thing | Hätte ich nur nichts gesagt! |
| bloß | Like nur, more colloquial and more exasperated | Wäre ich bloß zu Hause geblieben! |
| doch nur, doch bloß | Strongest, regret with longing | Hätte ich doch nur auf dich gehört! |
Wäre doch schon Freitag!
I wish it were Friday already!
No subject needed: an impersonal wish.
Hätte ich nur nichts gesagt!
If only I hadn't said anything!
Hätte ich doch nur auf dich gehört!
If only I'd listened to you!
Wären wir bloß nie umgezogen!
If only we'd never moved!
Negation follows the particle.
With or without wenn
Same wish, two shapes
With wenn: verb at the end
Wenn ich das bloß gewusst hätte!
If only I had known that!
Without wenn: verb first
Hätte ich das bloß gewusst!
If only I'd known that!
Both are correct and mean the same. The verb-first version is shorter and lands harder, because the regret comes in the very first word. It works in speech and in writing alike.
For a wish that can still come true, use hoffentlich and the indicative: Hoffentlich kommt er noch. The Konjunktiv II wish presents the thing as unreal or unlikely.
