Present Wishes – Real vs. Unreal
| A WISH THAT CAN COME TRUE | ||
|---|---|---|
We use wish followed by an infinitive clause to express a wish that can occur in the future. (A that-clause may follow hope or wish.)
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| SUBJECT | VERB | COMPLEMENT |
We
|
wish
|
to go with you. (direct request / demand)
|
We
|
would like
|
to go with you. (more formal request)
|
I
|
hope
|
(that) we can go with you. (suggestion / request)
|
I
|
wish
|
*(that) I can go with you.
|
| AN IMAGINARY WISH | ||
|---|---|---|
We use wish + preterit to express a wish about a hypothetical (imaginary) situation. Optionally, use that before the clause that complements the verb.
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| SUBJECT | VERB | COMPLEMENT |
I
|
wish
|
(that) I were¹ home in my country. (a private thought; a longing)
|
I
|
wish
|
(that) I could go with you. (an excuse due to inability, or an expression of regret)
|
I
|
wish
|
(that) you would let me pay for dinner.(pretend regret, or upset)
|
I
|
wish
|
(that) you would turn that TV off! (low expectation request; anger, outrage)
|
preterit – the past tense verb form
was (informal) / were (formal) If I was / were… preterit verb form. Irrealis (Huddleston 3 §1.7)
*a that-clause is not used for a present (real) wish
Unreal Wishes (Hypothetical)
Present and Past
Past Wishes – Unreal
| A PRESENT WISH ABOUT THE PAST | ||
|---|---|---|
Wish followed by a clause with could have or would have expresses regret about a past action that did not happen.
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| SUBJECT | VERB | COMPLEMENT |
I
|
wish
|
(that) I could have gone with you. (regret over a lost opportunity)
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I
|
wish
|
(that) you would have remembered to take the dog out. (nagging, anger)
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| A PAST WISH ABOUT THE PAST | ||
|---|---|---|
Wished follwed by a clause with could have, would have, or a past participleexpresses regret about a past action that did not happen.
| ||
| SUBJECT | VERB | COMPLEMENT |
I
|
wished
|
(that) I could have gone with you. (remembering a lost opportunity)
|
I
|
wished
|
(that) I had been old enough to drive. (remembering a wish)
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And now that you understand how to make wishes you can practice here wishes
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