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Learn English
Using Wish
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.)
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