You are on page 1of 7

How to Use 'Wish'

Wishes about the present or future


(Download this explanation in PDF here.)

Wish + (that) + past simple:


We can use 'wish' to talk about something that we would like to be different in the present or the
future. It's used for things which are impossible or very unlikely.

 I wish that I had a big house (I don't have a big house, but it's a nice idea!).
 I wish that we didn't need to work today (we do need to work today, unfortunately).
 I wish that you lived close by (you don't live close by).
 I wish that John wasn't busy tomorrow* (he is busy, unfortunately).
(*In formal writing, you will see 'were' instead of 'was' after wish. This is correct, but it's also fine to
use 'was', in the same way as with the second conditional.

 'I wish I were rich' or 'I wish I was rich'.)


We also use 'wish' with 'could' to talk about things in the present or future that we would like to be
different. In this situation, 'could' is the past simple of 'can'.

Of course, we use 'can' to talk about ability - if we know how to do something or not. For example, 'I
can speak Spanish' or 'I can't drive'. We also use 'can' to talk about possibility - if things are possible
or not possible. For example, 'we can't come to the party tonight' or 'John can help you clean up'. We
use 'could' with 'wish' to talk about ability and to talk about possibility.

 I wish that I could speak Spanish (but, unfortunately, I can't speak Spanish).
 I wish that I could drive (I can't drive).
 I wish that we could go to the party tonight (unfortunately, we're busy so we can't go).
 I wish that John could help you clean up (John is at work, so he can't help).
Try an exercise about 'wish' here.

We don't usually use 'wish' in this way for things that are really possible in the future. Instead, we
use 'hope'. Read more about 'hope' here.

 I hope that you pass your exam (NOT: I wish that you passed the exam).
 I hope that it's sunny tomorrow (NOT: I wish that it was sunny tomorrow).
 I hope that Julie has a lovely holiday (NOT: I wish that Julie had a lovely holiday).
Wish + (that) + would:
On the other hand, we use 'would' with 'wish' in a little bit of a special way. It's generally used about
other people who are doing (or not doing) something that we don't like and we want that person to
change. It's not usually used about ourselves, or about something which nobody can change though,
exceptionally, we do use it about the weather.

 I wish that John wouldn't eat all the chocolate. (John does usually eat all the chocolate and I
don't like it. I want him to change his behaviour!)
 I wish that the neighbours would be quiet! (They are not quiet and I don't like the noise.)
 I wish that you wouldn't smoke so much! (You do smoke a lot and I don't like it. I want you
to change this.)
 I wish that you wouldn't work late so often.
 I wish that it would stop raining!
We don't usually use 'would' when there's no feeling that we want somebody to change their
behaviour.

 NOT: I wish that tomorrow would be a holiday. (Instead: I wish that tomorrow was a
holiday.)
 NOT: I wish that I would work harder. (It's strange to use 'wish' + 'would' about yourself, as
you can change your behaviour if you don't like it!)

Wishes about the past


Wish + (that) + past perfect:
We can use 'wish' with the past perfect to talk about regrets from the past. These are things that have
already happened but we wish they'd happened in a different way. This use of 'wish' is very similar
to the third conditional.

 I wish that I had studied harder at school. (I didn't study hard at school, and now I'm sorry
about it.)
 I wish that I hadn't eaten so much yesterday! (But I did eat a lot yesterday. Now I think it
wasn't a good idea.)
 I wish that the train had been on time. (But unfortunately the train was late, and so I missed
my interview.)

Other uses of 'wish'


Wish + to + infinitive:
We can use 'wish' with the infinitive to mean 'would like'. This is very formal. We don't usually use a
continuous tense with 'wish' in this case.

 I wish to speak to the headmaster. (This means the same as 'I would like to speak to the
headmaster'.)
 I wish to go now.
Wish + object + to + infinitive:
In the same way, we can use 'wish' with an object and an infinitive.

 I do not wish you to publish this article.


 I wish these people to leave.
Wish + somebody + something:
This is used mostly in set phrases.

 I wished him a happy birthday.


 They wished us Merry Christmas.
Wish/if only

We can use "wish":


 to express a desire for something in the future in a formal or polite tone:
"I wish to attend the meeting."
 to express a desire for something in the future for someone else, usually using fixed
expressions:
"I wish him the best of luck."

"wish" / "if only"

We can use "wish" and "if only" to express an unlikely or impossible desire or a regret:

 with the past simple to express an impossible desire in the present:


 "I wish I lived in the countryside."
 "If only I lived in the countryside."
I don’t live in the countryside in the present so this desire is impossible.

 with the past perfect to express a regret about the past:


 "I wish I hadn't eaten the prawns."
 "If only I hadn't eaten the prawns."
I regret that I ate the prawns in the past.

 with would/could to express a desire that we believe is unlikely or impossible in the present:
 "I wish he would save money."
 "I wish he could save money."
 "If only he would save money."
 "If only he could save money."
not "I wish he will/can save money."
I do not believe that he can/will save money, so this is an impossible desire about his
ability in the present to save money.

The subjunctive mood

Expressions using "wish" and "if only" are examples of the subjunctive mood, which is used to
express unlikely or impossible desires (or recommendations, without "wish" / "if only"). In the
subjunctive mood, we only use "were" (not "was"):

 with past simple of "be":


 "I wish he were on holiday."
 "If only he were on holiday."
 (not "was here")
He is not on holiday so this is an impossible desire in the present.
 with past continuous:
 "I wish I were going on holiday."
 "If only I were going on holiday."
 (not "was going")
I am not going on holiday so this desire is impossible in the present or future.

Conditional clauses

We can use "wish" and "if only" to describe an imagined or impossible condition in the past or
present followed by a main clause that describes the imagined result.

Second conditional structure (link to worksheet) for impossible desires in the present:

 "If only I didn't have a headache, I would/could go to the party tonight."


 "I wish I didn't have a headache, then I would/could go to the party tonight."
The real situation and result: I do have a headache so the desired intention/ability in the
present to go to the party is an imagined result.

Third conditional structure (link to worksheet):

 "If only I'd taken the train, I would have arrived at the destination by now."
 "I wish I'd taken the train; I would have arrived at the destination by now."
The real situation and result: I did not take the train and I have not arrived at the destination
so this is an imagined result in the past.

Form - "wish"
We use the present simple of "wish" to express a present desire for something in the future.

 To express a desire in a formal or polite tone:

I
You
wish
positive We
They
He / She / It wishes
to attend the meeting.
I
You
don't wish
negative We
They
He / She / It doesn't wish

I
you
Do
question we wish to attend the meeting?
they
Does he / she / it
 To express a desire:

I
You
wish
positive We
They me
He / She / It wishes you
us the best of luck.
I them
You him / her / it
don't wish
negative We
They
He / She / It doesn't wish

I me
you you
Do
question we wish us the best of luck?
they them
Does he / she / it him / her / it

 We use the past simple of "wish" to describe a desire that was expressed in the past:
 "She wished him the best of luck."
English grammar – Wish
 On this page:
 Form and meaning
 Pronunciation
 Teaching ideas

Wishes about the present and future


1. wish + past simple is used to express that we want a situation in the present (or future) to be
different.
 I wish I spoke Italian. (I don’t speak Italian)
 I wish I had a big car. (I don’t have a big car)
 I wish I was on a beach. (I’m in the office)
 I wish it was the weekend. (It’s only Wednesday)
2. wish + past continuous is used to express that we want to be doing a different action in the
present (or future).
 I wish I was lying on a beach now. (I’m sitting in the office)
 I wish it wasn’t raining. (It is raining)
 I wish you weren’t leaving tomorrow. (You are leaving tomorrow)

Wishes about the past


wish + past perfect is used to express a regret, or that we want a situation in the past to be different.

 I wish I hadn’t eaten so much. (I ate a lot)


 I wish they’d come on holiday with us. (They didn’t come on holiday)
 I wish I had studied harder at school. (I was lazy at school)

Wish + would
wish + would + bare infinitive is used to express impatience, annoyance or dissatisfaction with a
present action.

 I wish you would stop smoking.


You are smoking at the moment and it is annoying me.

 I wish it would stop raining.


I’m impatient because it is raining and I want to go outside.

 I wish she’d be quiet.


I am annoyed because she is speaking.

Wish and hope


To express that you want something to happen in the future (not wanting a situation to be different,
and not implying impatience or annoyance) hope is used instead of wish.

 I hope it’s sunny tomorrow.


“I wish it was sunny tomorrow” is not correct.

 I hope she passes her exam next week.


“I wish she were passing her exam next week” is not correct.

 I hope the plane doesn’t crash tomorrow.


“I wish the plane wouldn’t crash tomorrow” is not correct.

Wish and want


wish + infinitive or wish + object + infinitive is used to mean want in a formal situation.

 I wish to leave now. (+ infinitive)


 I wish to speak to your supervisor please. (+ infinitive)
 I do not wish my name to appear on the list. (+ object + infinitive)

Wish in fixed expressions


I/we wish you… is used in fixed expressions.

 I wish you a happy birthday.


 We wish you good luck in your new job.

Pronunciation
See the phonemic chart for IPA symbols used below.
In connected speech catenation and elision often occur with wish.

 I wish I’d studied harder: /wI ʃaɪd/


(catenation – the last consonant sound of wish is joined to the vowel sound in I)

 I wish he hadn’t done that: /wI ʃiː/


(catenation and elison – as above, and the first consonant sound in he is elided)

You might also like