English speakers use "wish" to show that they want a situation to be different. The verb after "wish" is one tense back, so that if you are wishing for a different present situation, the tense that follows "wish" is past simple or past continuous. If you are wishing that a past situation was different, the tense that comes after "wish" is past perfect. You can also use "wish" with modal verbs in English.
Wish and present situations
Situation: My sister is untidy. (Verb "to be" in the present simple)
Wish:I wish she was tidier. (Verb "to be" in past simple)
Situation: I am going to London next week. (Verb "to go" in present continuous)
Wish: "I wish I wasn't going to London next week." (Verb "to go" in past continuous)
Situation: I haven't studied for the English test. (Verb "to study" in present perfect)
Wish: "I wish I had studied for the English test." (Verb "to study" in past perfect)
Wish and past situations
Situation: I didn't go on holiday this year. (Verb "to go" is in past simple)
Wish: "I wish I had gone on holiday this year. (Verb "to go" is in past perfect.)
Wish with modal verbs
With could to refer to ability
Situation: I can't play a musical instrument.
Wish: "I wish I could play a musical instrument."
With would to refer to habits and free will
Situation: He whistles in the office.
Wish: I wish he wouldn't whistle in the office. (In this sentence you are stressing the fact he wants to whistle and makes a habit of it.)
You could also say: "I wish he didn't whistle in the office." (In this sentence you aren't stressing his desire to whistle, but you are just making a comment about a present situation.)
40 comments on “Using Wish”
with the verb wish sometimes we use the sentence:
i wish i were …… not:
i wish i was
so is that correct?
Yes. Strictly speaking, it's more grammatically correct to say "I wish I were". However, you will hear people saying "I wish I was."
The first form : I wish I were, is a formal english. The second one is common. Incorrect, but very used
i wish i stay longer in The Bahamas. it is so beautiful.
I wish I could stay longer in The Bahamas.
in english we usualy use wishs when some one want go to somewhere but it impossibe for him ,so in the same time or in the same way he say : i wish i was/were in london ,
can we use WISH for future tense?
like if i dont want something to happen in future
eg."i wish i dont get any letter tomorrow from my principle"
is it correct?
No: "I hope I won't get a letter tomorrow…"
or if i want something to happen in future
eg."i wish it rains tomorrow"
"I wish it would rain tomorrow."
When we wish for something different in a present situation, we use the past:
I wish I wasn't so tall. (But I am tall.)
When we wish that someone else would change in the future, we use would:
I wish you would listen to me! (But you don't)
When we wish that the past had been different, we use the past perfect:
I wish I had studied harder at school. (But I didn't)
Can we formally or in everyday language use the present simple after wish in English grammar?
See these examples:
I wish to see the Manager. (I want to see…)
I wish I could speak French. (But I can't)
I wish I was by the sea. (But I'm not)
We use wish to talk about situations that aren't real. For this reason, we don't use the present simple, but past tenses.
How can i make a sentence about my wish for future? I mean my wish is that i want to be an engineer in future. Please make a sentence for it.
I wish I could be an engineer.
is this sentence correct?
i wish i could see him…….
he is far from me and i want to see him
Yes, your sentence is correct.
If the rule is wish+past tense (to change reality) why can't we say I wish I changed my appearance ( to mean I wish I could change my appearance)?
Wish + past tense = to regret a present situation:
I wish it wasn't raining. (It's raining now.)
Wish + could = refer to ability
I wish I could change my appearance.
You can't say "I wish I changed" because that would refer to a present situation. In fact, you are talking about your hope for the future, which is why you need "could". If you wanted someone else to change their appearance, you could say "I wish you would change your appearance".
I wish I could go to moon .
I wish I could work from home.(As i was working earlier but now i left my job)
I wish i could change my house.
are these sentences correct?
Yes, though it should be "go to the moon".
We use the verb wish,followed by a past,when we would like something to be true that is not true right now.
ex: She wishes she could drive.
in the above example she can't but she desires to drive.
wish + Past Tense Clause can be expressed in tow ways.
1. Sub+wish(es)+(that)+sub+Verb second form or (didn't+Verb first form)+ Rest of the sentence
Ex: I wish (that )I had a car.
2.Sub+wish(es)+(that)+sub+were )+ Rest of the sentence
Ex: He wishes (that ) he were the president.
Remember: If the clause after "wish " is positive it gives negative meaning.
Ex: He wishe he were a singer.
the above example means that he is not a singer,but he wants.
we wish we were not party members.
the above example means that we are the members,but we don't want.
I could understand better the use of wish
can someone tell me if this sentence is correct and why or why not.
Please be advised that the beneficial owner of the above-stated company wish to have this company struck off the register.
should it say wish or wishes? and why
Wanda » I'd say "wishes".
Thank you. But could it be argued that it could be both! or is it incorrect period?
Wanda » "Wishes" is correct as "owner" is singular. Because of this, "wish" is incorrect to me, as you'd use it for a plural noun: "the owners wish…"
Now I understand better the use of wish.
Many thanks.
I wished I had gone with them.
Does this show regret?
legoui » Yes, it shows a past regret. You could also say "I wish I had gone with them" to show you still regret not going with them.
Is this use of wish correct?
"I'm glad you asked this question because others may wish similar clarification."
Shouldn't there be a "for" in there? Or is it okay to drop as in "We wish you a merry Christmas?"
Liz » Wish can be used in place of "want" in formal situations. For example, "I wish to see the manager". But in your example sentence, I prefer "…. others would perhaps like similar…" or "wish for" as you have said.
Please tell me that this sentence is correct or not.
I wish i would have gone to party.
No: I wish I had gone to the party.
please explain the difference in btw with for and wish to.
for ex, if you are wishing for peace to somebody, it should be "wish peace to you" or "wish peace for you" ?
many thanks!
In your sentence, you can use "I wish you…"
I wish you a happy and peaceful New Year! / I wish you peace and happiness in 2009.
i need 2 ask this that can i say i wish i go there.cause i wanna go there.or i should say i wish i went there.and i wish could have met him.because i dint meet him in past.
"I wish to go there" is more formal than "I want to go there."
"I wish I went there" is not correct, as we use wish + past tense to talk about regrets for present situations, such as "I wish I was rich" = I am not rich now.
"I wish I had met him" = I didn't meet him in the past.
Is the sentence below correct?pls help me understand between"wished and wish"
1."I wished I could afford to buy an apartment"
2. "I wish I could afford to buy an apartment"
Thanks^^
Yes, both are correct. The first one talks about a wish you had in the past, while the second talks about a wish you have for now or the future.
Is it possible to use the present perfect tense with 'wish'? like this.
I have wished he would finished his project.
No. Either "I wish he would…" or "I wished he had…"
please:
1)what is different btw could and would in wish?
2)how can i wish for something that i did in the past and now i regret about that?eg" i whish we would stay in canada" now i am in other contry
and i dont wish to stay in ca but it was good if we did in the past.
I wish we could have stayed in Canada.
Is this correct, " Sheehan wishes it were already May". Or is it better " Sheehan wishes it was already May"?
Yes.
Can I say?
"I wish I can go"
It should be "I wish I could go". You can't use "can" here.
I wish I would have more free time to study speaking english
I wish I had / I wish I could have…