Adults|Grammar|Intermediate|24. Wish

Read the rules

We also use wish to say that we regret something, that something is not as we would like it.

When we use wish in this way, we use the past (knew/lived etc.), but the meaning is present:

1. I wish I knew what to do about the problem. (I don’t know and I regret this)

2. I wish you didn’t have to go so soon. (you have to go)

3. Do you wish you lived near the sea? (you don’t live near the sea)

4. Jack’s going on a trip to Mexico soon. I wish I was going too. (I’m not going)

To say that we regret something in the past, we use wish + had… (had known / had said) etc.

1. I wish I’d known about the party. I would have gone if I’d known. (I didn’t know)

2. It was a stupid thing to say. I wish I hadn’t said it. (I said it)

Read the rules

I wish I could (do something) = I regret that I cannot do it:

1. I’m sorry I have to go. I wish I could stay longer. (but I can’t)

2. I’ve met that man before. I wish I could remember his name. (but I can’t)

I wish I could have (done something) = I regret that I could not do it:

• I hear the party was great. I wish I could have gone. (but I couldn’t go)

Read the rules

You can say «I wish (somebody/something) would (do something)». For example:

• It’s been raining all day. Jill doesn’t like it. She says: I wish it would stop raining.
• Jill would like the rain to stop, but this will probably not happen.

We use I wish… would when we would like something to happen or change. Usually, the speaker doesn’t expect this to happen.

We often use I wish… would to complain about a situation:

1. The phone has been ringing for five minutes. I wish somebody would answer it.

2. I wish you would do something instead of just sitting and doing nothing.

You can use I wish… wouldn’t… to complain about things that people do repeatedly:

• I wish you wouldn’t keep interrupting me.

We use I wish… would… for actions and changes, not situations. Compare:

1. I wish Sarah would come. (= I want her to come)

but I wish Sarah was (or were) here now. (not I wish Sarah would be)

2. I wish somebody would buy me a car.

but I wish I had a car. (not I wish I would have)

Put in wish(ed) or hope(d)

Complete the sentences with one of the words from the list

For the following situations, write sentences with would or wouldn’t… .

Correct grammar mistakes and rewrite the sentences.

Example: We (did bought) have bought a car.

Put the verb into the correct form

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