【问】(a) If only you would try a little harder! (NCE)
 (b) If only we could have gone to the party! (NCE)
 我查了许多词典，例如，《英语惯用法大词典》、《现代英语用法词典》，它们在讲if only条目时，只是讲到了if only引出感叹句的用法。这是不是说，if only不能像单纯的if那
 样引出一般的条件状语从句呢?
 【答】 if only常常用来表示感叹性的愿望，但并非总是用惊叹号。
 1. If only Tessa was here now. (LEG)
 要是特萨现在在这儿，那该多好!
 2. If only he didn't drive so fast. (PEG)
 要是他开车开得不那么快就好了。
 3. If only she and Hubert had enough sense of humour!
 要是她和休伯特有足够的幽默感，那该多好!
 4. If only I'd listened to my parents! (CGEL)
 要是那时我听了父母的话就好了。
 5. If only he had arrived in time! (OSD)
 要是那时他及时到达就好了。
 但是，if only仅仅是if的强化形式，它不仅能表达说话人的愿望，而且还能表达条件。因此，它同if一样，也能引出条件状语从句。
 1. If only you would help me next week，I would not be so nervous.
 如果下周你能帮助我，我就不会很紧张了。
 2. If only they were here now，we would be able to celebrate their wedding anniversary.(CGEL)
 如果他们现在在这里，我们就能庆祝他们的结婚纪念日了。
 3. I am always amazed when I hear people saying that sport creates goodwill between the nations，and that if only the common peoples of the world could meet one another atfootballor cricket，they would have no inclination to meet on the battlefield. (New Concept English，Book 4. L7)
 每当我听到人们说运动会创造国与国之间的友好关系，要是世界上平民百姓在足球场或板球场上相遇，他们就无意在战场上兵刃相见的时候，我总是感到惊讶不已。