Wish you were here
Having a lovely time. Wish you were here.
What is the reality of the above situation?
Answer: You aren't here. (present)
Now imagine you went to a party but your friend didn't come along with you. You could say:
I wish (that) you had been there. It was great fun.
What is the reality of this situation?
Answer: Your friend wasn't at the party. (past)
So when the reality is present: wish + past
and when the reality is past: wish + past perfect
Consider the following:
He can't drive. He wishes (that) he could drive.
He won't change his mind. I wish that he would change his mind.
So when the reality is can: wish + could
and when the reality is will: wish + would.
We also use wish + would, when we want to talk about situations we are not happy about and where we want someone else to change them.
He has a bad habit of biting his nails. I wish he would stop biting his nails.
I hate it when companies phone me to sell things. I wish they would stop phoning me.
We use wish + past perfect to express regrets.
They offered me a job but I turned it down. Now I regret turning it down. I wish I hadn't turned the job down.
Like with 2º Conditional structures we can use was or were with 1º person.
I am only 1m65. I would like to be 1m75. I wish I was/were taller.
What might the following wishes be?
- I don't have much money.
- He is poor.
- He failed the exam because he didn't study enough.
- I don't want to go to work tomorrow but I have to.
- She can't speak English very well.
- She lied. Now she regrets it.
- I ate some seafood last night. Now I feel ill.
- He speaks so quickly that I don't understand what he is saying.
- My friend is going on holiday but I can't go with her.
- I spent too much money last weekend.
What wishes do you have?
Do the Grammar Challenge to practice wish + Past Perfect for regrets. Also see the Grammar Challenge about the verb regret.
The Flatmates also have an episode that practices the wish + Past Perfect structure.
What verb form should follow 'I wish'? Watch this #learnenglish https://t.co/KNxiC20WFA pic.twitter.com/vxfTiTOCKO
— BBC Learning English (@bbcle) March 24, 2016
The verb ‘wish’. Learn the three ways it can be used and test your understanding https://t.co/VcI9u1Dh3u #learnenglish #vocab #grammar
— BBC Learning English (@bbcle) April 2, 2016
5 different ways to use the word wish: BBC MasterClass: https://t.co/JKJzDYXB29 via @YouTube
— BBC Learning English (@bbcle) December 5, 2016
Watch the video to learn about the words we use after ‘wish’.
— BBC Learning English (@bbcle) June 11, 2018
Then, answer the following question:
Which sentence is NOT correct?
a) I wish I knew the answer.
b) I wish I had known the answer.
c) I wish I know the answer.
You'll find a summary here: https://t.co/qjFXhki0bJ pic.twitter.com/N3iH6wvJc4
🤔Is this sentence correct? If not, why not?
— BBC Learning English (@bbcle) March 25, 2019
“I wish you do well on your exam tomorrow.”
👉You’ll find the transcript, a summary and quizzes here: https://t.co/Od0Q9YlS4z #bbclearningenglish #learnenglish #speakenglish #englishtips #wish #hope #confusingwords #vocabulary pic.twitter.com/gz3PpbK24u
How do you talk about past mistakes correctly? Forms like 'should have', the third conditional and 'wish' or 'if only' are useful. Dan explains it all! Watch this: https://t.co/O7zlOHwoev#learnenglish #bbclearningenglish #grammar #vocabulary #have #englishlesson pic.twitter.com/A1uoUbiHE1
— BBC Learning English (@bbcle) May 11, 2020
Comments
Could I say " I wish I wouldn´t have to go to work tomorrow" If I only talk about tomorrow?
I´m afraid I haven´t done more exercises. I´m a bit behind.
Thank you.
See you later¡
In answer to your question, I don't think so.
We use "I wish you would(n't)" to criticize or try to change others.
You wouldn't really say "I will have to work tomorrow" but " I have to work tomorrow"
so then it's - I wish I didnt' have to..
You didn't answer my question. Have you done the Grammar Challenge and watched The Flatmates? If so, how did it go?
I didn´t advertise I had lost part of my comment,but I don´t remember what I had written.
I did the quizzes 1 y 2,They were easier than your exercises and I guessed all of them less one.
But,I don´t know why, I can´t watch the flatmates and I can´t do the third quizz neither.
I didn´t know you were interested about this, I had said it to you.
I don´t understand your last contribution about a school without excursions,a mother annoyed and a terminal ill girl.
I tryed to translate it with google and It was the worst.
Thank you and have the best weekend¡
I don't want to go to work tomorrow. Do you?
I didn´t TELL YOU THAT I had lost part of my comment, but I don´t remember what I had written.
I did QUIZZES 1 AND 2. They were easier than your exercises and I guessed all of them APART FROM/EXCEPT one.
But,I don´t know why, I can´t watch the flatmates and I can´t do the third QUIZ EITHER.
I didn´t know you were INTERESTED IN this, I had ALREADY TOLD you.
I don´t understand your last contribution about a school without excursions, AN ANNOYED MOTHER and a TERMINALLY ill girl.
I TRIED to translate it with google and it was the worst.
See you tomorrow!
5. She can't speak English very well. I wish I could speak as well. I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean "as well as her" or "as well" (too)?
9. My friend is going on holiday but I can't go with her. She wishes that I WAS GOING with her.
The other examples that you gave are correct.
-I wish I could speak fluent English. (capital letter!)
-I went to London a few weeks ago and I wish I had visited THE Tate Gallery.I HOPE TO VISIT IT NEXT TIME.
-I hate people listening to loud music on the bus. I wish listening to loud music ON public transport WAS BANNED.
-I wish going to the cinema WAS free (of charge).
Well if you continue like you are doing, there is a good chance of you realizing your ambition to speak fluent English.
Better:
5. She can speak English very well. I wish I could speak as well as her.
I really like how you are using expressions and constructions that you have studied.
I am already seeing good progress and I am sure that all the effort you are making is worthwhile.
I wish everyone would make the same effort. :-)
See you!
I'm sure you'll find A SPARE MOMENT before class on Friday.
but IT'S TOO LATE TO DO the exercises...I wish I had ENTERED THIS PAGE before,
Have you done the Grammar Challenge or listened to an episode of The Flatmates?
1. I don't have much money.- I wish I had a lot of money. Don't use "much" in positive sentences.
2. He is poor.- He wishes he wasn`t poor.
4. I don't want to go to work tomorrow but I have to.- I wish I didn't have to go to work tomorrow
7. I ate some seafood last night. Now I feel ill. - I wish I hadn`t eaten any seafood last night.
10. I spent too much money last weekend. -I wish I hadn`t spent so much money last weekend.
Well done!
What might the following wishes be?
1. I don't have much money.
I WISH I HAD A LOT OF MONEY
2. He is poor.
HE WISH HE WAS RICH
3. He failed the exam because he didn't study enough.
HE WISH HE HAD STUDIED MORE
4. I don't want to go to work tomorrow but I have to.
I WISH I HADN’T TO GO TO WORK TOMORROW
5. She can't speak English very well.
SHE WISH SHE COULD SPEAK ENGLISH VERY WELL
6. She lied. Now she regrets it.
SHE WISH SHE HADN’T LIED
7. I ate some seafood last night. Now I feel ill.
I WISH I HADN’T EATEN SEAFOOD LAST NIGHT
8. He speaks so quickly that I don't understand what he is saying.
HE WISH HE SPOKE MORE SLOWLY
9. My friend is going on holiday but I can't go with her.
I WISH I COULD GO WITH HER
10. I spent too much money last weekend.
I WISH I HADN’T SPENT SO MUCH MONEY LAST WEEKEND
• I don't have much money.
- I wish I had much money
• He is poor.
- I wish he wasn’t poor
• He failed the exam because he didn't study enough.
- I wish he had studied enough
• I don't want to go to work tomorrow but I have to.
- I wish I didn’t have to go to work tomorrow
• She can't speak English very well.
- I wish she could speak English very well
• She lied. Now she regrets it.
- She wishes she hadn’t lied.
• I ate some seafood last night. Now I feel ill.
- I wish I hadn’t ate seafood last night
• He speaks so quickly that I don't understand what he is saying.
- I wish he wouldn’t speak so quickly
• My friend is going on holiday but I can't go with her.
- I wish I could go with her.
• I spent too much money last weekend.
- I wish I hadn’t spent that money.
It just takes time to get your head around it.
I wish I had more money. / I wish I was rich. (we don't use "much" in positive sentences).
He wishes he had studied more.
She wishes she could speak English better.
I wish I hadn't eaten sea-food last night.
Well done!
This is my homework with "wish":
1. I don't have much money. I wish I had much money.
2. He is poor. He wishes he wasn´t poor.
3. He failed the exam because he didn't study enough. He wishes he had studied more.
4. I don't want to go to work tomorrow but I have to. I wish I didn´t have to go to work tomorrow.
5. She can't speak English very well. She wishes she could speak English very well.
6. She lied. Now she regrets it. She wishes she hadn´t lied.
7. I ate some seafood last night. Now I feel ill. I wish I hadn´t eaten any seafood last night.
8. He speaks so quickly that I don't understand what he is saying. I wish he would speak slowly.
9. My friend is going on holiday but I can't go with her. I wish I could go on holiday with my friend.
10. I spent too much money last weekend. I wish I hadn´t spent too much money last weekend.
See you tomorrow,
Alida
Wow! This might be a record. It's taken me two weeks to get round to replying to you.
1. I don't have much money. I wish I had more money. (We can't use "much" + noun in positive sentences.
10. I spent too much money last weekend. I wish I hadn´t spent so much money last weekend.
Well done!
2-I wish he wasn't poor.
3-I wish he had studied more.
4-I wish I hadn't work tomorrow.
5-I wish she could speak English well.
6-She wishes she hadn't lied.
7-I wish I hadn't ate some seafood last night.
8-I wish he would speak slower.
9-I wish I could go with my friend on holiday.
10-I wish I hadn't spent so much money last weekend.
I hope you are feeling a bit more confident using wish now. Keep in mind that most examples are just like 2nd and 3rd conditionals. When you do these kind of exercises, play around with the language. Say a bit more - just like in CAE.
1-I wish I had more money. / If I had more money, I'd buy a new car,
2-He wishes he wasn't poor. / If he were richer, he wouuldn't have to rely on his family to help him.
3-He wishes he had studied more. If he had, he'd have passed.
4-I wish I didn't have to work tomorrow.
5-She wishes she could speak English well. She might be able to find a better job if she could.
6-She wishes she hadn't lied.
7-I wish I hadn't eaten any seafood last night.
8-I wish he would speak slower.
9-I wish I could go with my friend on holiday.
10-I wish I hadn't spent so much money last weekend. Had I spent less money, I would be able to pay off some of my debts.