How to Use Wish Wishes about the present or future (Download this explanation in PDF here.) Wish + (that) + past simple: We can use wish to talk about something that we would like to be different in the present or the future. Its used for things which are impossible or very unlikely. I wish that I had a big house (I dont have a big house, but its a nice idea!). I wish that we didnt need to work today (we do need to work today, unfortunately). I wish that you lived close by (you dont live close by). I wish that John wasnt busy tomorrow* (he is busy, unfortunately). (*In formal writing, you will see were instead of was after wish. This is correct, but its also fine to use was, in the same way as with the second conditional. I wish I were rich or I wish I was rich.) We also use wish with could to talk about things in the present or future that we would like to be different. In this situation, could is the past simple of can. Of course, we use can to talk about ability - if we know how to do something or not. For example, I can speak Spanish or I cant drive. We also use can to talk about possibility - if things are possible or not possible. For example, we cant come to the party tonight or John can help you clean up. We use could with wish to talk about ability and to talk about possibility. I wish that I could speak Spanish (but, unfortunately, I cant speak Spanish). I wish that I could drive (I cant drive). I wish that we could go to the party tonight (unfortunately, were busy so we cant go). I wish that John could help you clean up (John is at work, so he cant help). Try an exercise about wish here. We dont usually use wish in this way for things that are really possible in the future. Instead, we use hope. I hope that you pass your exam (NOT: I wish that you passed the exam). I hope that its sunny tomorrow (NOT: I wish that it was sunny tomorrow). I hope that Julie has a lovely holiday (NOT: I wish that Julie had a lovely holiday). Wish + (that) + would: On the other hand, we use would with wish in a little bit of a special way. Its generally used about other people who are doing (or not doing) something that we dont like and we want that person to change. Its not usually used about ourselves, or about something which nobody can change though, exceptionally, we do use it about the weather . I wish that John wouldnt eat all the chocolate. (John does usually eat all the chocolate and I dont like it. I want him to change his behaviour!) I wish that the neighbours would be quiet! (They are not quiet and I dont like the noise.) I wish that you wouldnt smoke so much! (You do smoke a lot and I dont like it. I want you to change this.) I wish that you didnt work late so often. I wish that it would stop raining! We dont usually use would when theres no feeling that we want somebody to change their behaviour. NOT: I wish that tomorrow would be a holiday. (Instead: I wish that tomorrow was a holiday.) NOT: I wish that I would work harder. (Its strange to use wish + would about yourself, as you can change your behaviour if you dont like it!) Wishes about the past Wish + (that) + past perfect: We can use wish with the past perfect to talk about regrets from the past. These are things that have already happened but we wish theyd happened in a different way. This use of wish is very similar to the third conditional. I wish that I had studied harder at school. (I didnt study hard at school, and now Im sorry about it.) I wish that I hadnt eaten so much yesterday! (But I did eat a lot yesterday. Now I think it wasnt a good idea.) I wish that the train had been on time. (But unfortunately the train was late, and so I missed my interview.) Other uses of wish Wish + to + infinitive: We can use wish with the infinitive to mean would like. This is very formal. We dont usually use a continuous tense with wish in this case. I wish to speak to the headmaster. (This means the same as I would like to speak to the headmaster.) I wish to go now. Wish + object + to + infinitive: In the same way, we can use wish with an object and an infinitive. I do not wish you to publish this article. I wish these people to leave. Wish + somebody + something: This is used mostly in set phrases. I wished him a happy birthday. They wished us Merry Christmas.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 20:05:33 +0000
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