Wishes
Expressing wishes and regrets
Making a wish can be anything from one's private thought to imposing one's will on others. Note the subtle differences in the "wishes" below.
Present Wishes – Real vs. Unreal
| A WISH THAT CAN COME TRUE | AN IMAGINARY WISH |
|---|---|
Use wish to + verb to make a wish that can come true or to express a desire or request. |
Use wish + past tense verb form to express a wish about a hypothetical (imaginary) situation. The past tense verb form is called "subjunctive". |
We wish to go with you. (direct request / demand) |
I wish I were home in my country. (a private thought; longing) |
We'd like to go with you. (more polite 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'd turn that TV off! (low expectation request; anger, outrage) |
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 wished + could/would + have + participle to express regret about a past action that did not happen. |
I wish I could have gone with you. (regret over a lost opportunity) |
I wished 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. |
I wish the store had had that shoe is my size. (I regret they did no t have my size.) |
I wish the store would have had that shoe is my size. (I am unhappy they are unwilling or have chosen not to restock or carry my 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.) |
I wish they had called before coming. (I regret they did not call.) |
I wish they would have driven instead of us. (I am upset they 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. |
I wish the store could have had that shoe is my size. (They were unable to do so due to temporary stock limitations.) |
I wish the store would have had that shoe is my size. (I am unhappy they are unwilling or have chosen not to restock or carry my 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.) |
I wish they could have driven instead of us. (They were unable to drive due to not having a license or being physically incapable.) |
I wish they would have driven instead of us. (I am upset they were unwilling to drive.) |
I wish my boss could have bought us laptops instead of desktop computers. (He was not able to buy laptops due to budget limitations.) |
I wish my boss would have bought us laptops instead of desktop computers. (I am angry he was unwilling to do so.) |
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.