Wish Clauses

Wish clauses are used to express desires, regrets, or hypothetical situations about the present, past, or future. They allow us to talk about things we would like to be different or imagine how things could have been.

1. When Do We Use Wish Clauses?

To express regret or a desire for change in the present or future:
- I wish I were taller. (Present regret)
- She wishes it would stop raining. (Future desire)
To talk about unreal situations in the past (regrets):
- He wishes he had studied harder for the exam.
To express annoyance or criticism about someone’s behavior using “would”:
- I wish you would stop interrupting me.

Summary of Uses:

Present/Future: Wishes about the current or upcoming situation.
Past: Wishes about something that has already happened.
Behavior: Wishes expressing irritation or a desire for change in someone’s actions.

2. Forming the Wish Clauses

Wishes About the Present/Future: Subject + wish + subject + past simple verb

I wish I knew how to swim.
She wishes she had a bigger house.

Wishes About the Past: Subject + wish + subject + past perfect verb

I wish I had gone to the party.
He wishes he hadn’t missed the train.

Wishes About Behavior (Annoyance or Criticism): Subject + wish + subject + would + base verb

I wish you would listen to me.
They wish he would drive more carefully.

Key Notes:

Use “were” instead of “was” after “I” or “he/she/it” to sound more formal or correct in hypothetical situations.
- I wish I were rich.
- She wishes it were sunny.

3. Examples

Present/Future Wishes:

I wish I were on vacation right now.
They wish it weren’t so cold outside.
Do you wish you could speak another language?

Past Wishes:

I wish I had studied engineering.
He wishes he hadn’t argued with his friend.
She wishes they had arrived earlier.

Behavior Wishes:

I wish you would stop making so much noise.
They wish their neighbor would be more considerate.
Do you wish he would call you more often?