Wishes
Expressing wishes and regrets
Present Wishes – Real vs. Unreal
| A WISH THAT CAN COME TRUE | AN IMAGINARY WISH | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
We use wish followed by an infinitive clause to express a wish that can occur in the future. |
Use wish + past tense verb form to express a wish about a hypothetical (imaginary) situation. The past tense verb form is called "subjunctive". Optionally, use that to add the clause. |
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SUBJECT We |
VERB wish |
COMPLEMENT (infinitive & clause) to go with you. (direct request / demand) |
SUBJECT I |
VERB wish |
CLAUSE COMPLEMENT (that) I were home in my country. (a private thought; a longing) |
We |
would like |
to go with you. (more formal request) |
I |
wish |
I could go with you. (an excuse due to inability, or an expression of regret) |
I |
hope |
(that) we can go with you. (suggestion / request) |
I |
wish |
you would let me pay for dinner. (pretend regret, or upset) |
I |
wish |
*(that) I can go with you. (incorrect) |
I |
wish |
you would turn that TV off! (low expectation request; anger, outrage) |
*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
Past Wishes – Unreal
| A PRESENT WISH ABOUT THE PAST | A PAST WISH ABOUT THE PAST | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Use wish + could/would + have + participle to express regret about a past action that did not happen. |
Use could/would + have + participle or had + participle to express regret about a past action that did not happen. Optionally, use that to add the clause. |
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SUBJECT I |
VERB wish |
CLAUSE COMPLEMENT I could have gone with you. (regret over a lost opportunity) |
SUBJECT I |
VERB wished |
CLAUSE COMPLEMENT (that) I could have gone with you. (remembering a lost opportunity) |
I |
wish |
you would have
remembered to
take the dog out. (nagging, anger) |
I |
wished |
I had been old enough to drive. (remembering a wish) |
Variations in Meaning
Regret, Upset & Lost Opportunity
WISH – Regret vs. Upset
| HAD PARTICIPLE | WOULD HAVE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Using the past perfect verb form expresses regret over a past action that failed to occur. |
"Would have" expresses dissatisfaction and emphasizes someone's unwillingness to do something. |
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SUBJECT She |
VERB wishes |
CLAUSE COMPLEMENT the store had had the shoe in her size. (She regrets they did not have her size.) |
SUBJECT She |
VERB wishes |
CLAUSE COMPLEMENT the store would have had the shoe in her size. (She is unhappy they are unwilling or have chosen not to restock or carry her size.) |
I |
wish |
you had let me know that you were coming. (I regret you did not let me know.) |
I |
wish |
you would have let me know.(I am displeased you were unwilling to communicate.) |
They |
wish |
you had called before coming. (They regret you did not call.) |
They |
wish |
you would have driven instead of them. (They are upset you were unwilling to drive.) |
I |
wish |
my boss had bought us laptops instead of desktop computers. (I regret he did not buy laptops.) |
I |
wish |
my boss would have bought us laptops instead of desktop computers. (I am angry he was unwilling to do so.) |
WISH – Lost Opportunity vs. Upset
| COULD HAVE | WOULD HAVE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
"Could have" expresses regret over inability to do something – physical or mental. The situation is a lost opportunity. |
"Would have" expresses dissatisfaction and emphasizes someone's unwillingness to do something. |
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SUBJECT She |
VERB wishes |
CLAUSE COMPLEMENT (could) the store could have had the shoe in her size. (The store was unable to do so because they had none in stock.) |
SUBJECT She |
VERB wishes |
CLAUSE COMPLEMENT (would) the store would have had the shoe in her size. (She was unhappy the store was unwilling or chose not to restock her size.) |
I |
wish |
you could have let me know. (You were unable to do so because you could not get to a phone.) |
I |
wish |
you would have let me know.(I am displeased you were unwilling to communicate.) |
They |
wish |
you could have driven instead of them. (They were unable to drive due to not having a license (licence) or being physically incapable.) |
They |
wish |
you would have driven instead of them. (They are upset you were unwilling to drive.) |
I |
wish |
my boss could have bought us laptops not iPads. (He was not able to buy laptops due to budget limitations.) |
I |
wish |
my boss would have bought us laptops not iPads. (I am disappointed he was unwilling to do so.) |
En-US – license, En–Br: licence
stock (v.) – to keep supplies for selling
If Only
A Doubtful Wish
Wish vs. If only
| WISH | IF ONLY |
|---|---|
Use I wish… to express an imagined situation. We use wish to say that we want things to be different. |
Use if only to express a wish – one that you are doubtful about actually happening. The result clause is optional and is separate. It is more emphatic than I wish… |
I wish I had more time so that I could relax! |
If only I had more time! |
I wish I could go home for vacation, then I would be so happy. |
If only I could go home for vacation. I would be so happy. |
I wish you were here! |
If only you were here! |
I wish you would travel with me. (future) |
If only you would come with me. (future) |
I wish she hadn't told told her mother everything. |
If only she hadn't told her mother everything. (past) |
Also see Only if (a condition)
Practice
Hypothetical Situations and their Implied Meanings
Choose the verb that best completes the sentence. Pay attention to the cues in the context of the sentence.
- Select a verb tense from the pull-down menu.
- Then check your answer.