If only...or If .....only

Question

Cuando quiero expresar un deseo puedo decir :if only it were that simple to speak english.Pero puedo decir esto:if you could only let it be. En qué casos puedo usar :IF only..... o If ......only?

For a learner the safe bet is to ALWAYS write "If only.. " it will never be wrong when you want to say "ojala" where as "If...only" will be wrong sometimes. When you read natives you can guess from the context which of Lorenzo's meanings they want - rabbitwho, Nov 30, 2011

Answer 1

Be careful here:

If only I could go to Paris. . . = I wish I could go to Paris. . .

and

If I could only go to Paris. . . = If going to Paris were my only option. . .

although there are contexts that allow broader meaning.

It's less context and more intonation. If I could ONLY go to Paris... - rabbitwho, Nov 30, 2011

Answer 2

Hola, y bienvenido al foro. Your English seems very good, this is an advanced question.

You can say either:

If you could only let it be...

or

If only you could let it be...

They are more or less equal.