Expressing Wishes

We use wish + past simple when we want a situation or thing in the present to be different or to change .

He wishes that he were rich . I wish I didn’t have to get up so early .

Other variations : • I wish he was writing for me .• I wish I could help her .

Wish ‘1’

Wish + past simple

Our regret refers to the present

Examples :

Regret WishI’m fat I wish I wasn’t fat

I don’t have any friends

I wish I had some friends

I can’t swim I wish I could swim

Wish ‘2’We use wish + past perfect to express a wish about the past

They wish that they had studied harder when they were young .

( they didn’t study )

I wish I hadn’t married him . ( I married him )

Our regret refers to the past

Wish + past perfect

Examples :

Regret WishI’ve lost my pen I wish I hadn’t

lost my pen I didn’t go to the party

I wish I had gone to the partyI didn’t work for

the examI wish I had worked for the exam

Wish ‘3’We use wish + would to say that you want another person to do ( or not to do ) somthing ; often because you are annoyed or to complain about a thing or a situation .

I wish you wouldn’t be so rude . I wish my mother would let me go out till late

}notice that in these situations the subject of would is never I {

Wanting someone to do something or complaining about annoying habits

Wish + would

Examples :

Regret WishYou always bite your nails

I wish you wouldn’t bite your nailsYou treat me

like a childI wish you wouldn’t treat me like a child He doesn’t

understand what you meant

He wishes he would understand what you meant

You never listen to meI wish you would listen to me

I’d like to buy that car but I don’t have so much money I wish I had more money !

He’s so untidy !

I wish he wasn’t so untidy

I wish he would be tidier

I said something stuped at the meeting and now I’m so sorry …..

I wish I hadn’t said that

I didn’t study hard enough for the exam ….

I wish I had worked a bit harder …..

If I had worked a bit harder ; I would have passed my test

You’re playing your music so loudly !I want you to stop .please !I wish you wouldn’t play your music so loudly !

It’s a pity we cannot enjoy our new convertible car because of the rain

I wish it stop raining !

But ….Remember you cannot use would for wish about yourdelf !!I wish I would be taller

I wish I was taller

Now ; guess her wishes

I’d like to be in Italy now ….I wish I was/were in Italy now

Why doesn’t it stop raining ?

I wish it would stop raining !

Oh ; no ! ….I didn’t bring the washing in ! I wish I had brough the washing in !

Why doesn’t my husband wash his own shirts ?

wish he would wash his own shirts

Also …I wish he washed his own shirts …although the privious option would be more common

Moving to Britain was a mistake

I wish I hadn’t moved to Britain

Now tell your partner ….

• Two things you wish you had /hadn’t done when you were younger .• Two possessions you wish you had which would improve your life .• Two things you wish you can do but you can’t.• Two things you wish your partner/ brother / sister / parents / friend . Etc ; would do or wouldn’t because they annoyed you .