‘Wish Clauses’

#Wishes about the present#

1. We use wish + past simple to express that we want a situation
in the present to be different.
e.g.:

I wish I lived in Paris. (I don't live in Paris)

I wish I had a big house. (I don't have a big house)
I wish I was on a beach. (I'm in the classroom)

#Wishes about the past#

2. We use wish + past perfect to express a regret, or that we want
a situation in the past to be different.
e.g.:

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)

#Wish + Would#
3. We use wish + would + bare infinitive to express impatience,
annoyance or dissatisfaction with a present action or situation that you
want to be different .
e.g.:

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)
I wish my boyfriend would call me more often.
(My boyfriend doesn’t call me very often and I want that to be different)

#Important point#
* 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.
e.g.:
I hope it's sunny tomorrow. (Correct)
I wish it was sunny tomorrow. (Wrong)
I hope she passes her exam next week. (Correct)
I wish she would pass her exam next week. (Wrong)
 **Write sentences using WISH. (Present, past and
wish+would)**
a) I DIDN’T STUDY FOR THE TEST.___________________________________________________

b) I DON’T HAVE A CAR._____________________________________________________________

c) MY SISTER TALKS TOO MUCH AND I DON’T LIKE IT.__________________________________________

d) I ATE TOO MUCH AND FELT SICK.__________________________________________________

e) I DON’T WANT TO SEE HIM. ________________________________________________________

f) MY FATHER NEVER LISTENS TO ME.THAT MAKES ME SAD.______________________________________

g) I DIDN’T START MY ENGLISH COURSE LAST YEAR.____________________________________________

h) I DON’T HAVE BLUE EYES._________________________________________________________

i) I DON’T HAVE ANY MONEY.________________________________________________________

j) MY BROTHER GETS ON MY NERVES.________________________________________________

k) I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO EAT.__________________________________________________

l) I DON’T HAVE A BOYFRIEND/GIRFRIEND.____________________________________________

m) I’M NOT PATIENT.__________________________________________________________________

n) MY TEACHER ISN’T NICE.___________________________________________________________

o) I’M SHY.___________________________________________________________________________

p) I BOUGHT A T-SHIRT THAT I DIDN’T LIKE.____________________________________________

q) I DIDN’T GO TO PARIS LAST MONTH. ________________________________________________

r) MY SISTER IS IMPOLITE. THAT REALLY ANNOYS ME.___________________________________________

s) I HAVE TO TALK TO HER BUT I DON’T WANT TO._______________________________________________

t) I’M NOT INTELLIGENT.______________________________________________________________

u) MY MOTHER YELLS A LOT AND I CAN’T STAND IT.______________________________________________

v) I’M BALD.__________________________________________________________________________

w) MY BOSS IS TENSE AND I HATE THAT._______________________________________________________

x) I’M NOT TALL.______________________________________________________________________

 I didn’t study for the test. I don’t have a car. I ate too much
and
felt sick.

My sister annoys me My father never listens

because she talks I don’t have a big house. to me. That really
makes
too much. me sad.

I didn’t start my I’m not intelligent. I want some money.

English classes before.

My brother gets on My teacher is not nice. I want something to

eat.
my nerves.

I don’t have a boyfriend/

girlfriend. I’m not patient. I’m shy.

My sister is impolite. I bought a t-shirt that I I didn’t go to

Paris
That really annoys me. didn’t like. last year.
 My mother yells a lot
I have test today. I’m bald. and I can’t stand it.

*Answer key- (write sentences using wish)*

a) I wish I had studied for the test.
b) I wish I had a car
c) I wish my sister wouldn’t talk too much / I wish my sister would stop talking
d) I wish I hadn’t eaten too much/ I wish I had eaten less.
e) I wish I didn’t have to see him / I wish I wanted to see him.
f) I wish my father would listen to me.
g) I wish I had started my English course last year.
h) I wish I had blue eyes.
i) I wish I had money.
j) I wish my brother wouldn’t get on my nerves/ I wish my brother wouldn’t irritate me.
k) I wish I had something to eat.
l) I wish I had a boyfriend/ girlfriend.
m) I wish I was patient.
n) I wish my teacher was nice.
o) I wish I wasn’t shy. / I wish I was talkative.
p) I wish I hadn’t bought that t-shirt.
q) I wish I had gone to Paris.
r) I wish my sister would be polite. / I wish my sister wouldn’t be impolite.
s) I wish I didn’t have to talk to her.
t) I wish I was intelligent.
u) I wish my mother wouldn’t yell.
v) I wish I wasn’t bald. / I wish I had hair
w) I wish my boss wouldn’t be tense.
x) I wish I was tall.

****The answers may vary. The teacher needs to analyze if the answer provided by the
student is acceptable.