"If Only!": Past Wishes
In Italian, you can express deep regret or an unfulfilled wish about the past by using the past perfect subjunctive (congiuntivo trapassato) on its own.
Instead of starting the sentence with se (if), drop it entirely and start the exclamation directly with the subjunctive verb. This translates perfectly to the English "If only...!"
| If only the alarm clock had rung! | Avesse almeno suonato la sveglia! |
| If only I had set that damned alarm clock! | Avessi messo quella maledetta sveglia! |
Missed Connections and Mishaps
This standalone subjunctive is extremely common when bemoaning travel mishaps.
| If only we had consulted the GPS earlier! | Avessimo consultato il navigatore prima! |
| If only I had checked the layover schedule! | Avessi controllato l'orario dello scalo! |
Wishing Things Had Not Happened
To wish that something hadn't happened, simply place non at the beginning of the exclamation.
| If only I hadn't taken that damned detour! | Non avessi imboccato quella maledetta deviazione! |
| If only I hadn't gotten a flat tire on the highway! | Non avessi bucato in autostrada! |
Remember that if the verb takes essere as its auxiliary, the past participle must agree with the subject in gender and number.
| If only we hadn't gotten stuck in traffic! | Non fossimo rimasti imbottigliati nel traffico! |
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