How to Use Wish

Wishes about the present or future

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).
• 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).
(“were” instead of “was” can also be used after wish in the same way as with the second
conditional.
• I wish I were rich or I wish I was rich.)
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 the train was late, and so I missed my
interview.)
If only can be more emphatic than I wish
• If only I had studied harder at school. (I didn't study hard at school, and now I'm truly
sorry about it.)
I. Make sentences using “wish” + past simple about the things I don’t like. You can put
in “that” if you want, or leave it out.
Example: I am cold. → I wish I wasn’t cold.
1. I don’t have a car.
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2. I can’t play the piano.
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3. I’m at work.
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4. It’s winter.
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5. I’m ill.
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6. I don’t have new shoes.
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7. I can’t afford to go on holiday.
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8. I don’t have time to read lots of books.
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9. I can’t drive.
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10. My laptop is broken.
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II. Make sentences using “wish” + past simple or past perfect.

1. I don’t know the answer. → I wish _____________________________________________

2. I’m not good at sports. → I wish _______________________________________________
3. I’m not going with you. → I wish ______________________________________________
4. I can’t give you an answer. → I wish ____________________________________________
5. Your talking irritates me. → I wish _____________________________________ (be quiet)
6. I didn’t know you then. → I wish_______________________________________________
7. I wasn’t able to explain that rule. → I wish ______________________________________
8. You are constantly talking. → I wish _______________________________________(stop)
9. They are arguing! → I wish_______________________________________________(stop)
10. The car is going too slow. → I wish ______________________________________(faster)
11. I took your advice. Now I regret it. → I wish_____________________________________
12. She wasn’t able to come. → I wish ____________________________________________
13. I haven’t got much money! → I wish_____________________________________(more)
14. I’m not going on holiday with you! → I wish_____________________________________
15. You aren’t here! What a shame! → I wish ______________________________________
16. There is no sun! → I wish the sun___________________________________(come out)!
17. I didn’t listen to you. I regret it now. → I wish ________________________________

ANSWER KEY
I.
1. I wish (that) I had a car.
2. I wish (that) I could play the piano.
3. I wish (that) I wasn’t at work.
4. I wish (that) it wasn’t winter.
5. I wish (that) I wasn’t ill.
6. I wish (that) I had new shoes.
7. I wish (that) I could afford to go on holiday.
8. I wish (that) I had time to read lots of books.
9. I wish (that) I could drive.
10. I wish (that) my laptop wasn’t broken.

II.
1) I wish I knew the answer. (= I don’t know)
2) I wish I was /were better at sports. (= I'm not)
3) I wish I was /were going with you. (= I'm not)
4) I wish I could give you an answer. (= I can't)
5) I wish you would be quiet. (= Your talking irritates me.)
6) I wish I had known you then. (= but I didn't)
7) I wish I could have explained. (= I wasn't able to)
8) I wish you would stop talking. (= Your talking irritates me.)
9) I wish they would stop arguing. (= Their arguing irritates me.)
10) I wish this car would go faster. (=The car is going too slow.)
11) I wish I hadn't taken your advice. (= but I did)
12) I wish she could have come. (= but she didn't)
13) I wish I had more money! (= but I haven't)
14) I wish I was going on holiday with you!
15) I wish you were here. (= but you’re not)
16) I wish the sun would come out! (= but it’s gloomy)
17) I wish I'd listened to you! (=but I didn't)