Form and meaning
Wishes
about the present and future
1.
We use wish + past simple to express that we
want asituation 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.)
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.)
·
I wish you weren't leaving tomorrow. (You are
leaving tomorrow.)
Wishes
about the past
1.
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
1.
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.)
Wish
and hope
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.
NOT I wish it was sunny tomorrow.
NOT I wish it was sunny tomorrow.
·
I hope she passes her exam
next week.
NOT I wish she were passing her exam next week.
NOT I wish she were passing her exam next week.
·
I hope the plane doesn't
crash tomorrow.
NOT I wish the plane wouldn't crash tomorrow.
NOT I wish the plane wouldn't crash tomorrow.
Wish
and want
1.
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)
Wish
in fixed expressions
1.
We can use I/We wish you in fixed
expressions.
·
I wish you a happy birthday.
·
We wish you good luck in your new job.