Wish + verb forms in the that-clause
The verb forms used in that-clauses after “wish” mirror the verb forms in conditional clauses following “if”. In both cases, a past verb form is employed to convey present and future meanings. When using “wish”, we express desires and regrets by using past verb forms to describe situations that are different from the current or expected reality.
Wish + past simple: This is used to express regrets or desires for a different past reality.
Example: “I wish I had studied more for the test.” (Regret for not studying more in the past.)
Example: “I wish I had invested in that company years ago.” (Regret for not investing in the company in the past, suggesting it would have been a wise decision.)
Wish + past perfect: This is used to express a regret about a past action that didn’t happen.
Example: “She wishes she had gone to the party last night.” (Regret for not going to the party last night.)
Example:”He wishes he had taken the job offer when it was first presented.” (Regret for not accepting the job offer when it was initially offered.)
Wish + were + base form: This is used to express a theoretical or unreal situation, often associated with the first-person singular “I.”
Example: “I wish I were taller.” (Theoretical desire to be taller, even if it’s not true in reality.)
Example: “I wish I were a better singer.” (Theoretical desire to be a better singer, even if it’s not true in reality.)
Wish + present simple: This is used to express a desire for a change in a current or future situation.
Example: “I wish she lives a long and happy life.” (Desire for a long and happy life in the future.)
Example: “I wish they have a successful and prosperous business.” (Desire for a successful and prosperous business in the future.)
Wish + would
“Wish + would” is a grammatical structure used to express a desire for someone else to do something in the future. It’s often used when you want to politely request or suggest that someone does something. This structure is commonly used for expressing wishes or desires related to the actions of other people.
Here are some examples:
1.”I wish you would call me more often.” (Expresses a desire for the person to call more frequently.)
2.”She wishes her boss would give her more responsibilities.” (Expresses a desire for the boss to assign more tasks or responsibilities.)
3.”We wish they would join us for dinner tonight.” (Expresses a desire for them to accept the invitation to dinner.)
4.”He wishes his friend would stop smoking.” (Expresses a desire for the friend to quit smoking.)
5.”I wish you would come to my party next weekend.” (Expresses a desire for the person to attend the party.)
6.”She wishes her partner would help with household chores.” (Expresses a desire for her partner to contribute more to household tasks.)
7.”They wish their children would do better in school.” (Expresses a desire for their children to perform better academically.)
8.”He wishes his neighbor would turn down the volume on the music.” (Expresses a desire for the neighbor to reduce the volume of the music.)
9.”I wish she would be more punctual to our meetings.” (Expresses a desire for her to arrive on time for meetings.)
10.”She wishes her colleague would stop interrupting her during presentations.” (Expresses a desire for her colleague to refrain from interrupting.)
In these examples, “wish + would” is used to politely convey a wish or desire for someone to perform a specific action in the future. It’s a way to make a request or express hope regarding another person’s behavior.
If only
“If only” is another grammatical structure used to express wishes or regrets in English. It’s similar to “wish” but has a slightly different usage. “If only” is typically followed by a past verb form and is often used to express strong wishes, regrets, or desires for a different past or present reality.
1.”If only I had studied harder for the exam.” (Expresses a strong regret about not studying harder in the past.)
2.”If only we could go on that vacation together.” (Expresses a strong desire to go on a vacation together, which is not currently possible.)
3.”If only it would stop raining.” (Expresses a strong wish for the rain to stop, indicating dissatisfaction with the current weather.)
4.”If only he hadn’t said those hurtful words.” (Expresses a strong regret about something said in the past.)
5.”If only I were rich.” (Expresses a strong desire to be wealthy, even though it’s not true in reality.)
6.”If only the weather were warmer, we could have a picnic.” (Expresses a desire for different current weather conditions.)
7.”If only I were a better singer, I could perform on stage.” (Expresses a desire for a different present skill or ability.)
8.”If only I had invested in that company a year ago.” (Expresses a strong regret about not investing in the company in the past.)
9.”If only we could find a bigger house for our growing family.” (Expresses a strong desire to find a larger home, which is not currently possible.)
10.”If only the traffic would clear up so we could make it to the event on time.” (Expresses a strong wish for the traffic to improve, indicating frustration with the current situation.)
In these examples, “if only” is used to express a more intense or emotional wish or regret, often related to past actions or current situations. It’s a way to convey a deep longing for a different state of affairs.
