You Can Make It on a Wish if You Want to

How to Utilise 'Wish'

Wishes about the present or hereafter

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Wish + (that) + past simple:
We can use 'wish' to talk about something that we would similar to be different in the present or the future. It's used for things which are impossible or very unlikely.

• I wish that I had a big business firm (I don't have a big house, but it'south a overnice idea!).
• I wish that we didn't need to work today (we do need to work today, unfortunately).
• I wish that y'all lived close past (y'all don't alive close by).
• I wish that John wasn't decorated tomorrow* (he is decorated, unfortunately).

(*In formal writing, you will meet 'were' instead of 'was' afterward wish. This is correct, but it'southward likewise fine to use 'was', in the same way as with the second provisional.

• 'I wish I were rich' or 'I wish I was rich'.)

We likewise use 'wish' with 'could' to talk about things in the present or futurity that we would similar to exist unlike. In this situation, 'could' is the past simple of 'can'.

Of grade, we apply 'can' to talk well-nigh ability - if nosotros know how to do something or not. For instance, 'I can speak Spanish' or 'I can't drive'. We also use 'can' to talk about possibility - if things are possible or not possible. For case, 'we can't come to the party tonight' or 'John can help you make clean upward'. We use 'could' with 'wish' to talk about power and to talk near possibility.

• I wish that I could speak Castilian (but, unfortunately, I tin't speak Spanish).
• I wish that I could bulldoze (I can't drive).
• I wish that nosotros could get to the party this night (unfortunately, we're busy so we tin't go).
• I wish that John could help you clean up (John is at piece of work, so he can't help).

Endeavour an exercise almost 'wish' here.

We don't usually use 'wish' in this style for things that are really possible in the futurity. Instead, nosotros use 'hope'. Read more about 'promise' here.

• I promise that y'all laissez passer your exam (Non: I wish that you passed the exam).
• I hope that it's sunny tomorrow (Not: I wish that it was sunny tomorrow).
• I promise that Julie has a lovely vacation (NOT: I wish that Julie had a lovely holiday).

Wish + (that) + would:
On the other mitt, we use 'would' with 'wish' in a trivial bit of a special manner. It's generally used about other people who are doing (or not doing) something that we don't similar and we want that person to change. Information technology's not ordinarily used well-nigh ourselves, or about something which nobody tin change though, exceptionally, nosotros do apply it about the weather condition.

• I wish that John wouldn't consume all the chocolate. (John does usually swallow all the chocolate and I don't like information technology. I want him to change his behaviour!)
• I wish that the neighbours would exist repose! (They are not quiet and I don't similar the dissonance.)
• I wish that you wouldn't smoke so much! (You do smoke a lot and I don't similar it. I want you to change this.)
• I wish that you wouldn't work late so often.
• I wish that it would end raining!

We don't usually use 'would' when in that location's no feeling that nosotros want somebody to change their behaviour.

• NOT: I wish that tomorrow would exist a vacation. (Instead: I wish that tomorrow was a holiday.)
• NOT: I wish that I would work harder. (It'south strange to use 'wish' + 'would' almost yourself, as yous tin change your behaviour if you don't 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 they'd happened in a different fashion. This use of 'wish' is very like to the tertiary provisional.

• I wish that I had studied harder at school. (I didn't written report hard at school, and now I'thou sorry about it.)
• I wish that I hadn't eaten so much yesterday! (But I did consume a lot yesterday. Now I think information technology wasn't a skillful thought.)
• I wish that the railroad train had been on time. (But unfortunately the railroad train was belatedly, and so I missed my interview.)

Other uses of 'wish'

Wish + to + infinitive:
We can apply 'wish' with the infinitive to mean 'would like'. This is very formal. Nosotros don't unremarkably employ a continuous tense with 'wish' in this case.

• I wish to speak to the headmaster. (This means the aforementioned equally 'I would like to speak to the headmaster'.)
• I wish to go now.

Wish + object + to + infinitive:
In the same way, we can utilise 'wish' with an object and an infinitive.

• I exercise non wish you lot to publish this article.
• I wish these people to go out.

Wish + somebody + something:
This is used more often than not in set phrases.

• I wished him a happy altogether.
• They wished united states Merry Christmas.

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