In Spanish, if we want to express a strong wish we Sometimes use:
This structure is similar to using "ojalá". The equivalent in English would be "if only.../I wish...".
Let's see some examples:
Si él supiera cuánto lo quiero...If only he knew how much I love him...
Si me diera una oportunidad...If only/I wish she gave me a chance...
¡Uy si yo lo agarrase!If only/I wish I could get hold of him!
Also, this could express what someone "wonders" about something or a specific situation. For example:
¡Si me vieran mis padres ahora mismo!If only my parents saw me right now! [I wonder what they'd think...]
¡Si tu abuelo te escuchara!I wonder what grandad would say if he could hear you!
Rather than a wish, here the speaker expresses that s/he wonders what people's reaction would be towards what is happening.
See also Using the Spanish imperfect subjunctive in hypothetical clauses introduced by si followed by the Spanish conditional simple
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