EXPRESSING WISHES IN THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

wish + to infinitive: form! alternative to wnt or wo"!# !i$e %thin&s tht re 'ossi(!e)
Eg. I would like to see the manager. I wish to make a complaint.
I am sorry, but I do not wish to renew my subscription.
I don't ever wish to see you again!, she said and stormed out of the restaurant.

wishin& for the im'ossi(!e: wish * if on!+ + 'st tenses %'resent or f"t"re sit"tions)
o e!press wishes for "n!i$e!+ or im'ossi(!e situations in the 'resent or in the f"t"re and to
e!press re&rets, we can use wish * if on!+ + wo"!#, ,o"!#, ws * were or 'st tenses.
Eg. I don't speak any foreign languages, but I wish "that# I could speak $panish.
I'm hopeless at foreign languages, but I wish I spoke $panish.
I'm really la%y & but I wish "that# I wasn't ( weren't.
It's only uesday today, but I wish it was $aturday.
)y wife has to work long hours, but I wish she didn't "have to#.
I have to prepare all the meals. I wish "that# I didn't.
*nd now the dishwasher doesn't work. I wish it did.
+s and were are fully interchangeable with ,st and -rd person singular pronouns. +ere sounds
more form! than ws.
.ote also that we use wish * if on!+ + ,o"!# when we are talking about people's (i!it+ to do
things and wish * if on!+ + wo"!# when we are talking about things we would like other people to
do "or not to do# or when we're ,om'!inin& about people's behaviour.
Eg. I can't eat anything with nuts in because I'm allergic, but I wish I could ( if only I could.
I know your parents won't let you come to the party, but I wish you could ( if only you could.
I know you don't really want to come to the party, but I wish you would ( if only you would.
/e keeps sending me te!t messages, but I wish he wouldn't ( if only he wouldn't.

'st re&rets: wish * if on!+ + 'st 'erfe,t %to t!$ (o"t 'st sit"tions)
Eg. I didn't receive your postcard. I wish I had "received it#.
I didn't receive your postcard. If only I had "received it#.
Eg. he parcel never arrived. I wish it hadn't got lost in the post.
he parcel never arrived. If only it hadn't got lost in the post.
Eg. I wish I had worked harder at university, so now I would have a better 0ob.
If only I had worked harder at university, now I would have a better 0ob.
%#'te# from --. /ernin& En&!ish)