Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
Wish

Wish

Date: Oct 26 2007

Topic: Grammar

Author: rhyme_reason

Lesson

Wish

Let's start off with the easy part. ' I wish to' can mean the same as 'I want to' but it is much, much more formal and much, much less common.

  • I wish to make a complaint.
  • I wish to see the manager.

You can also use 'wish' with a noun to 'offer good wishes'.

  • I wish you all the best in your new job.
  • We wish you a merry Christmas.

Notice that when you want to offer good wishes using a verb, you must use 'hope ' and not 'wish'.

  • We wish you the best of luck.
  • We hope you have the best of luck.
  • I wish you a safe and pleasant journey.
  • I hope you have a safe and pleasant journey.

However, the main use of 'wish' is to say that we would like things to be different from what they are, that we have regrets about the present situation.

  • I wish I was rich.
  • He wishes he lived in Paris.
  • They wish they'd chosen a different leader.
  • I wish I hadn't told him.

Notice that the verb tense which follows 'I wish' is 'more in the past' than the tense corresponding to its meaning.

  • I'm overweight. I wish I was slimmer.
  • I never win at tennis. I wish I won a game occasionally.
  • It's raining hard. I wish it wasn't raining so hard.
  • I went to the pub last night. I wish I hadn't had so many beers.
  • I didn't go to the cinema. I wish I had gone.
  • I've eaten too much. I wish I hadn't eaten so much.
  • I'm going to see her later. I wish I wasn't.
  • I was wearing jeans. I wish I hadn't been wearing jeans.
  • I can't go to the party. I wish I could go.
  • I couldn't do all the questions in the exam. I wish I could have done them all.

In the case of 'will' , where 'will' means 'show willingness' we use 'would'.

  • He won't help me. I wish he would help me.
  • You're making too much noise. I wish you would be quiet.
  • You keep interrupting me. I wish you wouldn't do that.

Where 'will' means a future event, we cannot use 'wish' and must use 'hope'.

  • There's a strike tomorrow. I hope some buses will still be running.
  • I hope everything will be fine in your new job.

In more formal English, we use the subjunctive form 'were' and not 'was' after 'wish'.

  • I wish I were taller.
  • I wish it were Saturday today.
  • I wish the options were a little clearer.

Comments

Log in to Comment

juckz

India

Thanks a lot! You have solved a big confusion of mine, ie,where and how to use 'wish'.

04:00 PM Aug 15 2008 |

ChihMex

Mexico

Thanks a lot…. I wasn't sure about using "was" instead of  "were"..... I thought it was incorrect to use it.

I Wish I had known this!!! 

 

 

 

03:21 AM Jun 19 2008 |

jiahui.lei

jiahui.lei

China

  thank you for your lesson!  i wish you happy everyday!Laughing

03:49 AM Feb 01 2008 |

Lenaaa

Lenaaa

Russian Federation

Very good lesson. Thanks

07:29 AM Jan 22 2008 |

nrewndj

Russian Federation

It is interesting lesson.

05:10 AM Jan 22 2008 |

nrewndj

Russian Federation

I wish I knew English language perfectly.
It is necessary to know.
Thanks a lot.

05:09 AM Jan 22 2008 |

Thuralynn

Myanmar

Oh! great!

          Now I've known clearly how to use the word "wish".

         Thanks ebaby.  

02:46 PM Jan 16 2008 |

Likes (10):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast