Resource centre / English grammar / Wishes
1. We use 'wish' + past simple 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
Future: I wish it was the weekend tomorrow. -- It's only Thursday tomorrow
2. We use 'wish' + past continuous 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
Future: I wish you weren't leaving tomorrow.
-- You are leaving tomorrow
We use 'wish' + past perfect 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 with
us
I wish I had studied harder at school. -- I was lazy at school
We use 'wish' + would + bare infinitive 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
1. To simply express that you want something to happen in the future (not talking about wanting an action or situation to be different, and not talking about impatience or annoyance) we use 'hope', not 'wish'.
I hope it's sunny tomorrow.
I wish it was sunny tomorrow. x
I hope she passes her exam next week.
I wish she were passing her exam next week. x
I hope the plane doesn't crash tomorrow.
I wish the plane wouldn't crash tomorrow. x
2. We can use 'wish' + infinitive or 'wish' + object + infinitive 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)
3. We can use '(I) wish you' in fixed expressions.
I wish you a happy birthday.
We wish you good luck in your new job.
See also: Past simple /
Past perfect / Past continuous
Teaching wish
Pictures work best. Something simple like a picture of someone running in the
rain or a child crying (easy to find in magazines). Question students along the
lines of:
An idea I stole from my ESL teacher trainer is to introduce "Wish" with music.
The band, Pearl Jam, has a song called Wishlist and the song constantly
repeats the form, "I wish..." I have the students perform activities with the
lyrics (mazes, jumbles, etc...) to become familiar with the structure. Also, a
great listening activity."
I use a magic lamp, like we see in the movies, and I tell them that they should
make three wishes for the genie. It doesn't matter if they make some mistakes. I
then start talking about my wishes and explain all the cases of wish"
I choose funny daily situations so that I can get their attention. For
instance:
Well! The first thing I say to my students is "I wish I wasn't here now. I wish I was on vacation."
And then ask what their wishes are and to share their wishes with the class. Starting this way boosts
their confidence. And when they can express their wishes following my example, they are over the moon!
I personally wanted to learn the model from my teacher first when I myself was a student years back.
But actually, good examples at the beginning always trigger effective results."
For teenagers or adult students... I tell students that I went out last night and got
really drunk and did a bunch of stupid things. In the morning I saw all the pictures up
on facebook. I ask them to write what is going through my mind. Wow! I spent so much money
last night, I wish I hadn't spent so much money. My favorite shirt is ruined,
I wish I hadn't spilled my drink on it. etc.
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