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 shoes in her size. (She regrets they did not have her size.) |
SUBJECT She |
VERB wishes |
CLAUSE COMPLEMENT the store would have had the shoes 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.) |
Also see Won't – be unwilling
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 shoes 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 shoes 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
Make a Wish
Hypothetical situations and implied meanings
- Select the reponse that best completes the sentence and its context.
- Check your response by clicking the "check" button to the right.