The use of the verb wish indicates that the speaker
wants reality to be different. As in unreal conditionals, the use of a past or past
perfect tense verb indicates that the situation is impossible or unlikely. The
use of hope, on the other hand, indicates that the speaker believes something
is possible.
Wish can also be used with would to express a desire
that someone do something differently.
Wishes about the present and future
1. We use 'wish' + past simple to express that we want a situation in
the present (or future) to be different.
I wish I spoke
Italian. -- I don't speak Italian
I wish I had a big
car. -- I don't have a big car
I wish I was on a
beach. -- I'm in the office
Future: I wish it
was the weekend tomorrow. -- It's only Thursday tomorrow
2. We use 'wish' +
past continuous to express that we want to be doing a different action in the
present (or future).
I wish I was lying
on a beach now. -- I'm sitting in the office
I wish it wasn't
raining. -- It is raining
Future: I wish you
weren't leaving tomorrow. -- You are leaving tomorrow
Wishes about the
past
We
use 'wish' + past perfect to express a regret, or that we want a situation in
the past to be different.
I wish I hadn't
eaten so much. -- I ate a lot
I wish they'd come
on holiday with us. -- They didn't come on holiday with us
I wish I had
studied harder at school. -- I was lazy at school
Wish + would
We
use 'wish' + would + bare infinitive to express impatience, annoyance or
dissatisfaction with a present action.
I wish you would stop smoking. -- You are smoking at the moment and it
is annoying me
I wish it would stop raining. -- I'm impatient because it is raining and
I want to go outside
I wish she'd be quiet. -- I am annoyed because she is speaking
Important points
1.
To simply express that you want something to happen in the future (not talking
about wanting an action or situation to be different, and not talking about
impatience or annoyance) we use 'hope', not 'wish'.
I hope it's sunny
tomorrow.
I wish it was sunny
tomorrow. x
I hope she passes
her exam next week.
I wish she were
passing her exam next week. x
I hope the plane
doesn't crash tomorrow.
I wish the plane
wouldn't crash tomorrow. x
2. We can use
'wish' + infinitive or 'wish' + object + infinitive to mean want in a formal
situation.
I wish to leave
now. (+ infinitive)
I wish to speak to
your supervisor please. (+ infinitive)
I do not wish my
name to appear on the list. (+ object + infinitive)
3.
We can use '(I) wish to express a
greeting or a kind of blessing
I wish you a happy
birthday.
We wish you good
luck in your new job.
PAY ATTENTION
BE
= WERE
I
wish I were rich.
She
wishes she were rich.
We
wish we were rich.
EXERCISE
Rephrase
the following sentences using wish or if.
ex
: I don't have a dog and I regret
that. → I wish I had a dog.
1.
I don't speak Chinese and I regret that.
_____________________________________________________________
2.
Tom didn't work hard last year and now he's sorry.
_____________________________________________________________
3.
The children are shouting and I'd like them to stop.
_____________________________________________________________
4.
Caroline isn't rich enough to buy an apartment otherwise she would do
that.
_____________________________________________________________
5.
My car broke down on Sunday and I regret that that happened.
_____________________________________________________________
6.
In your position I think you should have a check-up once a year.
_____________________________________________________________
7.
It would be better if the rain stopped.
_____________________________________________________________
8.
I don't have any cake to offer you and I'm sorry about that .
_____________________________________________________________
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