Wish Clauses

Present Time
Wish + past simple / could + verb 1 / were + verb-ing
Examples:

Present Situation       Our wishes

I am not ready for the test.   I wish I were ready for the test.
She isn't at home.        We wish she were at home.
They are coming with us. Sam wishes they weren't coming with us.
Ted is working now. He wishes Ted weren't working now.
It's snowing.      I wish it weren't snowing.
I don't know her phone number.  I wish I knew her phone number.
Mike tells lies all the time. 
My friends wish Mike didn't tell lies.
He doesn't trust me. 
I wish he trusted me.
It rains a lot here.
Sally and Tom wish it didn't rain a lot here.
He hates me. 
I wish he didn't hate me.
Sam has to stay home tonight.
I wish Sam didn't have to stay home.
I can't speak English.   
I wish I could speak English.

Future Time
Wish + would / could + verb 1
Note: If the subjects of the two clauses are the same, only could can be used not would!
Eg. I wish I would go to the concert at the weekend. Incorrect
I wish I could go to the concert at the weekend. Correct
Examples:

Present Situation Our wishes

He never answers my letters.
We don't like the menu.
They are bombing the city for days.
You are not coming with us.
Sally wants to quit this job.
I wish he would answer my letters.         
We wish they would change the menu.      
Many people wish they would stop
bombing the city.     
Mary wishes you would come with us.
I wish Sally would change her mind.
 It has been raining for 5 days. I wish it would stop raining.
The baby is crying. My wife wishes the baby would stop
crying.

If only
If only and I wish are the same and can be used instead of each other.
Eg. I wish she were here. = If only she were here.
I wish she would stop lying. = If only she would stop lying.

Adapted by S.Ç.B. June 2021, from: https://www.englishpedia.net/my-grammar/advanced/wish-if-only/wish-

clauses-present-time-lesson.html

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb.

1. I wish my mother __________ (be) here now.

2. If only you and your wife __________ (attend) the wedding together.
3. We wish you __________ (come) to the meeting tomorrow.
4. Sally wishes she __________ (be) richer so that she could buy whatever she wants.
5. Tom wishes he __________ (not live) in a big city.
6. My father wishes I __________ (stop) staying out late.
7. If only I __________ (sleep) now. I’m so tired.
8. I wish my neighbors __________ (not make) so much noise late at night!
9. My little cousin wishes she __________ (not have to wear) glasses.
10. If only it __________ (not rain) now. I would go out for a walk.

Prepared by S.Ç.B. June 2021

Exercise 2: Read the situations and write sentences with wish clauses.

1. I don’t know many people.

____________________________________________________.
2. I can’t give up smoking.
____________________________________________________.
3. Mary hasn’t got enough money for the concert.
____________________________________________________.
4. I have to work tomorrow and I’d like to stay in bed.
____________________________________________________.
 5. He keeps arriving late for class. It’s getting on my nerves.
____________________________________________________.
6. I would love to be lying on a beach in the Bahamas right now.
____________________________________________________.
7. Richard can’t speak Italian.
____________________________________________________.
8. It is a pity that I don’t have my camera with me.
____________________________________________________.
9. I hate it when you drive fast in the city.
____________________________________________________.
10. My car is broken and I don’t know anything about cars.
____________________________________________________.

Adapted by S.Ç.B. June 2021, from:

http://www.edu.xunta.gal/centros/iesaugadalaxe/system/files/wish.doc1359330051.pdf
Answer Key

Exercise 1

1. were
2. would / could attend
3. would / could come
4. were
5. didn’t live
6. would stop
7. were sleeping
8. wouldn’t make
9. didn’t have to wear
10. weren’t raining

Exercise 2

1. I wish I knew more people.

2. I wish I could give up smoking.
3. Mary wishes she had enough money for the concert.
4. I wish I didn’t have to work tomorrow. I wish I could stay in bed.
5. I wish he wouldn’t arrive late for class.
6. I wish I were lying / could be lying on a beach in the Bahamas right now.
7. Richard wishes he could speak Italian.
8. I wish I had my camera with me.
9. I wish you wouldn’t drive fast in the city.
10. I wish I knew something about cars.