Wishes Present and Past

Present wishes indicate something that is "contrary to fact." That is, wishes are something that is untrue but desired. For example,

I wish that I had a sports car. I wish that I were a doctor.

(The truth is I don't have a sports car.) (I'm really not a doctor.)

For present wishes, the past tense is used in the that clause, because it indicates a situation that is only imagined. Sometimes the word that is omitted.

• She wishes (that) she had a diamond ring.
• He wishes (that) he were rich.

To express possibility (can) and future intention (will), use the modals could and would respectively.

• She wishes that she could sing.
• They wish that she would stop.

When a "be" verb is required, the word were is used, regardless of the subject.

• We wish you were here.
• I wish (that) I were taller.

Past wishes indicate things we imagine would have been different in the past, although we cannot change them. For past wishes, use the past perfect in the that clause. I wish (that) I had gone to Cincinnati He wishes that he had been elected chairman. They wish they had won the lottery. (I really didn't go.) (He wasn't elected.) (They didn't win.) Form and meaning Wishes about the present and future We use wish + past simple to express that we want a situation in the present 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.) We use wish + past continuous to express that we want to be doing a different action in the present. I wish I was lying on a beach now. (I'm sitting in the office.) I wish it wasn't raining. (It is raining.) 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.)