Use i wish for expression. Conditional offers with wish and wishes. I wish in offers related to this

The subjunctive mood is probably quite difficult to understand at first glance. After all, there are so many secrets, features that are important to grasp. In this rule, the verb "wish" is clearly visible, which opens up new opportunities for communication.

If we look in the dictionary, we can see that "wish" conveys the meaning to wish. But in some sentences and situations, this verb has a tinge of regret, unrealistic possibility, unfulfilled hopes. Let's plunge a little into the grammar of I wish, which is used in both the subjunctive and the indicative mood. In the first case, this verb has the meaning of unreality, regret, sadness, and in the second, wishes.

All uses of I wish

1. In the usual dictionary meaning, I wish is used in the constructions: "I wish you luck / I wish you success / I wish you happy birthday". If you want someone something to wish then use the structure "To wish smb smth".

I wish you luck at your exam. - I wish you the best in your exam.

She wished me happy holiday. - She wished me a happy weekend.

2. To express regret about , that something is not as we want, it is necessary to use a conditional clause. Unlike the previous meaning, which is never used with a subordinate clause, in this case it is simply necessary. "It's a shame I don't live in the city." - As you can see, the proposal present, but in English we use the past tense.
So the structure is: I wish + S + V 2 (V ed), although Past Continuous is sometimes used if it is necessary to emphasize the duration (parallel actions: sorry at the moment about the current action in the subordinate clause).

I wish he had a driving license. - It is a pity that he does not have a driver's license.

I wish it wasn’t snowing now. - It's a pity it's snowing now.

3. If our regrets about past events, then we use Past Perfect in the subordinate clause, namely: "I wish + S + had + V 3 (V ed)"(the action in the subordinate clause precedes I wish - unfortunately).

I wish I had come to your wedding. - It is a pity that I did not come to your wedding.

I wish I hadn’t called him yesterday. “I'm sorry I called him yesterday.

4. Express your grief and disappointment in English using modal verbs. So, in the structure "I wish I could do smth" the narrator regrets that can't do (actions concern the present). And here is the design "I wish I could have done smth" translated - sorry that I could not do , and refers to past events.

I wish I could stay with you. “I wish I could stay with you.

I wish I could have given you a lift. - Wish I could give you a lift.

5. But if you want to change the situation, express dissatisfaction, irritation, impatience (when this is over), then you must use would: "I wish + S + would + V" in the sense of a pity, I would so much like (the action in the subordinate clause refers to the future), in other words, to express an insistent request. It is important to note that the I and the subject in the clause must not be the same.

I wish you would treat me better. “I wish you would treat me better.

I wish you wouldn’t sing in the bath. - I wish you weren't singing in the bathroom. (used for regularly repeating activities that are annoying)

Translation

The grammar I wish has few uses that are easy to remember. But, if you carefully read the examples, then you noticed the peculiarities of the translation. So, if there is "not" in the subordinate clause, then in Russian it sounds affirmative. And if in English the sentence is positive, then in Russian it is negative.

I wish we were younger. - It's a pity that we not so young.

I wish I had visited him before. - Sad, that I did not visit him before.

I wish he didn’t speak only English. - It's a pity that he is talking English only.

I wish I hadn’t bought this car. - I'm sorry that I bought this car.

The use of I wish will diversify your speech, make it more lively and expressive. This means that it is more understandable. Be interesting conversationalists in any language, because the subjunctive mood is frightening only at first sight.

Some difficulties arise in the perception of the subordinate clause. Design I wish synonymous with expression I want to(i want) or I would like to(I would like to) but with a touch of regret.

For example: I wish I had convinced Anna to go to the doctor.

This phrase can be said in another way: I would like to convince Anna to go to the doctor.

When translated into English, it will look like this: I wish I convinced Ann to go to the doctor. (I want Annd to go to the doctor, by the way).

Thus, you just need to remember that when using the construction I wish necessary change affirmation to negation and vice versa.

I wish you didn’t go t here. Wish you went there.

I wish you went there. Wish you DIDN'T go there.

It is a pity that it is snowing. I wish it wasn’t snowing.

Maria wishes we could go to the theater. Maria wishes we could go to the theater.

Let's clarify in what tense the predicate is used in the subordinate clause.

Predicate forms in a relative clause

• The action takes place in the present or in the future. Use Past Simple (simple past tense) or Past Continuous if the action is in progress.
• The action has already taken place. Past Perfect is used.

For instance:

I wish Alex could do it! If only Alex could do it!

I wish Alex didn’t do it. Too bad Alex is doing this.

I wish Alex had done it. Too bad Alex did NOT do this.

I wish Alex hadn’t done it. It's a shame Alex did it.

Design I wish ... would expresses an extreme degree of dissatisfaction with the current situation.

For instance:

I wish he would stop drinking. It is a pity that he will not stop drinking in any way! (He drinks, it annoys me).

Competent use of the structure I wish will brighten up your English speech.

I wish I were

Deserves special attention design I wish I were, namely - the distorted form of Past Simple in this example (instead of the usual was in the first person singular we meet were). Is it correct to say so? In fact, yes. The strict one says that instead of I was, you need to say and write I were. Apparently, this happened so because it allows you to further emphasize unreality of the event... And in spoken English, as well as in TV shows, they say I wish I was, remember this!

Wishes table

Hard? Let's summarize all the data in an understandable table:

	Grammatical form	Usage	Examples of
TYPE # 1: regret present	I wish (if only) + Past Simple or Could	Regret for events taking place in the present tense. What we want to change now. Could expresses a lack of physical ability.	I wish I were more courageous. I wish I could drive a car.
TYPE # 2: unlikely desire to change something in the future	I wish (if only) + Would	Desire to change something in the future, expression of extreme dissatisfaction or uncertainty.	I wish he would prepare for his exams. I wish you would stop smoking.
TYPE # 3: regretting the past	I wish (if only) + Past Perfect	Regret about something that happened or did not happen.	I wish I had gone to the party last night.

If only Is a more expressive form of the I wish construction.

The word wish is very popular in English. It is remarkable in that it can act both by itself in its basic meanings and as part of a structure. I wish.... Meaning and functions of grammatical structure I wish differ from the original meaning of wish. In addition, this design has its own unique use cases. She must have met you. But first things first.

First, let's look at the main meanings of the verb wish.

1. Wish can be the formal equivalent of a verb want.

Wish meaning want is used in formal communication, in official communications and in business correspondence:

I wish to talk to Mr. Smith. “I would like to speak to Mr. Smith.

I wish to make a suggestion. - I would like to make a proposal.

Read more about the verbs want and wish.

2. Wish can often be found in wishes. After wish in wishes there is a noun or an infinitive:

I wish you all the best. - I wish you all the best.

We wish you a Merry Christmas. - We wish you a Merry Christmas.

3. Most often, wish is used to express a desire to change a situation or regret. This value of wish is the subject of the bulk of this article.

Wish to express regret.

In this sense, wish is a synonym for the word regret(sorry), but they are used in different ways. While we use after regret, there are three possibilities with wish:

1

I WISH

Past simple Past Continuous

2

I WISH

Past perfect

This construction is used if you are unhappy with the present or future situation, want to change it, or simply express regret about it.

Consider situations in which you could use these constructs:

I want to get a new job. It can be difficult as I can’t speak English fluently. - I want to find a new job, but I am not fluent in English.

I say:
I wish I could speak English. - It's a pity that I can't speak English fluently.

My friends are going to the gig. I can’t join them because I don’t have free time - My friends are going to the concert. I cannot join them because I have no free time.

I say:
I wish I had some free time. I wish I could join my friends. - It’s a pity that I don’t have free time. Wish I can join friends.

Past Continuous is used when we express regret about the state of affairs at the time of the speech or about future agreements:

It "s snowing today. I can" t go out because of it. - It's snowing today. Because of this, I cannot go for a walk.

I say:
I wish it wasn’t snowing today. - It's a pity it's snowing. (I wish it hadn't snowed today).

You can get confused with Russian translations, especially when negatives appear. To translate sentences from I wish without losing meaning, remember simple formulas.

I WISH = I would like to ... / Wish ... not ...

I WISH + NOT= I would like to ... not ... / Sorry that + statement

2.

I WISH

Past perfect

This structure is used to express regret about the past (perfect or imperfect) action.

Sometimes we miss opportunities, do not take advantage of the chances that appear to us, or, on the contrary, we do not act in the best way, and then we regret it. In such cases, the I wish + Past Perfect construction helps us express our regret:

I didn "t attend English lessons at school but now I need Engish for my work. - I didn’t attend English lessons at school, and now I need it for work.

I say:
I wish I had attended English lessons at school. - It is a pity that I did not attend English lessons at school.

I bought a second hand car but it broke down the next day. - I bought a used car and it broke down the next day.

I say:
I wish I hadn’t bought this second hand car. - Too bad I bought this used car.

I didn’t tell her the truth and she was very angry when she found out the truth. “I didn't tell her the truth and she got very angry when she found out the truth.

I say:
I wish I had told her the truth. “I wish I had told her the truth.

Please note: if in an English sentence after I wish there is a statement, then it is translated by negation. Accordingly, the negation is translated by the statement after I wish.

3.

I WISH

would + bare infinitive

The construction is used in two cases:

1) In order to politely express a wish about someone's behavior or order:

I wish you would stop talking on the phone. = Please, stop talking on the phone. - I would like / would ask you to stop talking on the phone.

I wish you would answer my question. = Please, answer my question. - I would like / would ask you to answer my question.

2) To express dissatisfaction and criticism of someone's annoying behavior or an annoying situation, express a desire to change someone's behavior:

I wish she would not boast. - I wish she didn’t brag.

I wish people would stop smoking in the street. - I would like people to stop smoking on the streets.

Would or could?

Instead of would the word could is used when the subject I or WE:

I wish I could play the guitar. - I would like to be able to play the guitar (I wish I could play the guitar).

I wish we could go on holiday all together. - I would like us to go on vacation all together. / It’s a pity that we do not go on vacation all together.

What is If only?

If only is the equivalent of wish in all of the above constructs. In all examples, we can safely replace I wish to If only without changing the meaning:

I wish I had some free time. = If only I had some free time. - It’s a pity that I don’t have free time.

I wish I had attended English lessons at school. = If only I had attended English lessons at school. - It is a pity that I did not attend English lessons at school.

I wish people would stop smoking in the street. = If only people would stop smoking in the street. - I would like people to stop smoking on the streets.

Was or Were?

In sentences like I wish + Past Simple instead of was can be used were:

I am short. I want to be taller. - I'm short. I want to be taller.

I say:
I wish I was / were taller. - I would like to be taller.

I wish I wasn’t / weren’t short. - It is a pity that I am short.

He is very rude. - He's very rude.

I say:
I wish he was / were more polite. - I wish he was more polite.

I wish he wasn’t / weren’t so rude. - I wish he was not so rude.

In 2004, the Coca-Cola Company released a 1-minute commercial, and it immediately gained popularity in many countries. This video does not contain the usual slogans, it contains only one song, the words of which perfectly illustrate the use of the I wish construction.

We invite you to watch this positive video!

I wish I could share all the love that "s in my heart
Remove all the bars that keep us apart
I wish I could say all the things that I should say
Say em loud, say em clear, for the whole round world to hear
I wish I could give like I "m longin to give
I wish I could live like I "m longin to live
I wish I could do all the things that I can do
And though I "m way overdue, I" d be starting a new

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We often talk about our desires. Sometimes we want something unreal, sometimes we regret something, and sometimes we just want to dream. In English we do this with the word wish.

The word wish has several meanings. In this article, we will look at a meaning that is difficult to understand. Namely: when we express regret, disappointment, sadness about not being able to do or have what we want.

In this sense, we can use wish when talking about events of the present, past and future.

Using the design with wish in the present tense

In the present tense, we use wish when we are talking about some events that we would like to change right now. In this case, we want something to be different at the moment and we wish it were.

For example, now it is raining outside the window, but you are going for a walk and would really like it to be sunny.

Education design:

I		I
You		you
We	wish	we	spoke English
They		they	worked
She		she	was here
He	wishes	he
It		it

As you can see, there are two parts to the proposal. The first part (I wish / wishes) is in Present Simple. In the second part always followed by action in the past tense(Past Simple).

If in the first part we are talking about the 3rd person (he, she, it, my friend), then we add the ending -es to our wish. Otherwise, wish remains unchanged.

Wewish we slept now.
We would like us to sleep now.

He wishes he lived in New-York.
He would like to live in New York.

They wish they were at home.
They would like them to be at home.

If we use the modal verb can in the second part, it is put in the past tense and changes form to could. After could, the action itself takes place in the present tense.

Someone + wish (es) + someone + could + action

I		I
You		you
We	wish	we		speak English
They		they	could	swim
She		she		cook
He	wishes	he
It		it

Theywish they could leave a lesson.
They wish they could leave the lesson.

He wishes he could dance.
He wishes he could dance.

Negative sentence with wish in the present tense

The negative form in the present tense is formed with the help of the auxiliary verb did and the negative particle not. The education scheme of such a proposal:

Someone + wish (es) + someone + did not + action

I		I
You		you
We	wish	we		speak English
They		they	did not	work
She		she		be here
He	wishes	he
It		it

Examples:

She wishes she did not feel ill.
She wishes she didn't feel sick. (She, wish she got sick)

They wish they did not study.
They would like them not to study. (They wish they were learning)

Using the ___ wish ___ were

The construction I wish I were translates as "I would like to be ...". With the help of it, we talk about any unrealistic desires.

Previously, according to the rules of the English language, in the construction of _wish_were, regardless of the person (me, you, we, he, she) we put were. But the rules are changing. Now there is a division into colloquial and formal speech.

Formal speech

In formal speech or writing, it is customary to say were regardless of the character:

Someone + wish (es) + someone + were

I		I
You		you
We	wish	we		cat
They		they	were	president
She		she		young
He	wishes	he
It		it

Examples:

Theywish they were smart.
They would like to be smart.

Shewishes she were beautiful.
She would like to be beautiful.

Colloquial speech

However, colloquially (you can hear it on TV shows) we still change were to was when it comes to the 3rd person (he, she, it). Education scheme:

Someone + wish (es) + someone + were / was

I		I
You		you
We	wish	we	were	cat
They		they		president
She		she		young
He	wishes	he	was
It		it

Examples:

He wishes he was a millionaire.
He would like to be a millionaire.

Theywish they were younger.
They would like to be younger.

Using a construct with wish in the past tense

We use this construction when we regret something we did in the past, and now we would like to do it differently.

For example, you have moved to live in another city. After living there for a while, you realized that it was a mistake. And now you regret moving, but you cannot return anything.

The education scheme will be as follows:

Someone + wish (es) + someone + had + regular -ed or 3rd form irregular verb

I		I
You		you
We	wish	we		seen this film
They		they	had	bought the phone
She		she		been here
He	wishes	he
It		it

The first part remains unchanged in the present tense. In the second part, we put had in front of the action we regret, and the action itself in the 3rd form.

Shewishes she had given Tom her phone number.
She would like her to give Tom her phone number. (She wishes she gave it to him.)

Iwish I had bought a ticket for the concert.
I would like me to buy a ticket to this concert. (I wish I bought it)

Negative sentences with wish in the past tense

If you have done something that you regret, and you would like it not to happen, you need to use denial. To do this, we add the negative particle not to our had.

The education scheme of such a proposal:

Someone + wish (es) + someone + had not + regular verb with the ending -ed or 3rd form of an irregular verb

I		I
You		you
We	wish	we		seen this film
They		they	had not	lost a phone
She		she		been here
He	wishes	he
It		it

Examples:

He wishes he had not bought this car.
He would like him not to buy this car. (He's sorry he bought it)

We wish we had not met each other.
We wish we didn't meet each other. (We're sorry we met)

Using a design with wish in the future tense

We use wish when we want something to happen in the future. Most likely this is an unlikely event or one that we cannot influence.

For example, you would like to buy a car that you like, but you realize that you cannot afford it.

The scheme will be as follows:

Someone + wish (es) + someone + would + action

I		I
You		you
We	wish	we		speak English
They		they	would	lose phone
She		she		be here
He	wishes	he
It		it

The first part remains in the present tense. In the second part, we simply put will in the past would form, and the action itself remains in its original form.

Iwish she would stop smoking.
I would like her to quit smoking.

Shewishes she would go to the concert.
She would like her to go to a concert

Negative suggestion with wish in the future tense

To say that you don't want anything to happen in the future, add the negative not particle to would. The education scheme of such a proposal:

Someone + wish (es) + someone + would not + action

I		I
You		you
We	wish	we		meet
They		they	would not	work
She		she		be here
He	wishes	he
It		it

Examples:

She wishes summer vacation would not end.
She would like the summer holidays to go on. (She's sorry they run out)

They wish they would not have to leave.
They wish they didn't have to leave. (They wish they had to leave)

So, we have considered all constructions with the word wish. And now you can speak in English about your desires and actions that you regret. Now let's consolidate the knowledge gained in practice.

Assignment task

Translate the following sentences into English. Leave your answers in the comments below the article.

1. She would like to be a ballerina.
2. He wishes he could come.
3. They wish they weren't at that party.
4. I wish I could drive a car.
5. She would like him to call her.
6. We would like it not to fly away.
7. He would like him to buy that car.
8. They would like to be invited to their birthday.

Among English sentences containing a conditional mood (Comparative Mood), a special place is occupied by sentences containing a verb wish- "to desire."

Subtleties of translation

It would seem that with this meaning of the verb, the construction I wish will simply be synonymous with the expressions I want - "I want" and I would like - "I would like." However, such sentences should not be translated and taken quite literally. Let's look at a few examples:

I wish I hadn’t eaten so much.	Wish I ate so much. (literally: "I wish I hadn't eaten so much")
I wish it weren’t so cold in my room.	It's a shame my room is so cold. (or: "I wish it weren't so cold in my room")
I wish you were here with me.	It is a pity that you are not here with me. (or: "I wish you were here with me")

As can be seen from the above examples, sentences of this kind speak not so much about the speaker's desire as about his regret about the inability to get what you want. A pronounced shade of regret is what distinguishes the design I wish from similar expressions with the verb want and the construction would like.

A convenient way to translate sentences containing I wish into Russian is to use the word "Sorry ..." or the expression "I would like to ...".

This construction is part of a complex sentence, where the main sentence is part I wish , and the subordinate clause is the remainder of the regret expressed. The connection within such a complex sentence is non-union, but sometimes, although very rarely, you can find a union after I wish that, for example:

When translating using the word "Sorry ...", do not forget to also change the affirmative subordinate clause to a negative one and vice versa, because we "pity" the current situation, but we "wish" the exact opposite:

I wish I had known that Mary was ill.	sad, that I did not know that Mary was ill.
I wish I hadn’t known that Mary was ill.	Pity that I found out that Mary is sick.
I wish it hadn’t been so cold during the summer.	It's a pity that in the summer It was So cold.
I wish it had been cold during the summer.	It's a pity that in the summer did not have cold.

Wish-Sentences and predicate forms in the conditional mood

Depending on what we regret - about the past, the present, or the impossibility of something in the future, the construction of the verb form in the conditional mood will occur in different ways.

If you have to regret events or state of affairs in the present then should be used after I w ish verb form or depending on the nature of the action:

I wish I had a real friend.	I wish I had a real friend.
I wish it were possible.	It's a pitty it's impossible.
I wish we had something to eat.	Too bad we have nothing to eat.
I wish I were watching that football match now.	It's a shame I’m not watching that football match right now.
I wish I knew some more information about cars.	Wish I know more information about cars.

For those who are not yet familiar with the topic of conditional sentences and conditional mood in English, you should pay special attention to the form of the verb to be - were allowed and even welcomed in conditional sentences when used together with the first and third person singular. In the indicative mood with such subjects, only the form was was allowed. And although in the conditional mood the use of was is not forbidden, nevertheless, were occurs more often.

Expressions of character are especially popular I wish I were ...

I wish I were your boyfriend.	Wish I’m your boyfriend.
I wish I were in my bedroom with an interesting book.	I wish I was in my bedroom with an interesting book.
I wish I were able to speak a foreign language.	It is a pity that I cannot speak a foreign language.
I wish I were a doctor.	It’s a pity that I’m not a doctor.

In addition, often in this kind of subordinate clauses is used could (Past Simple form of the verb can - "to be able, to be able"):

I wishyou could drive a car.	It's a shame you can't drive a car.
I wish I could help you, but I can’t.	I wish I could help you, but I cannot.
I wish we could make our life easier and more interesting.	It is a pity that we cannot make our life easier and more interesting.
I wish our pets could speak.	It is a pity that our pets cannot talk.

If a person regrets events that happened or did not happen in the past, then the verb form is used in the subordinate clause:

I wishI hadn’t met that woman.	It's a shame I met that woman.
I wish I had learned to play a musical instrument.	It's a shame that I didn't learn to play a musical instrument.
I wish you hadn’t painted your room red.	Wish you painted your room red.
I wish I had taken my camera with me.	Wish I had my camera with me.
I wish those unexpected guests hadn’t come or at least had told they were coming.	It is a pity that those unexpected guests then arrived and did not even say that they were coming.

In a situation where the speaker expresses not just regret, but extreme irritation about a phenomenon and wants the onset of change, in the subordinate clause the form is used would + the Infinitive without to :

The phone is ringing for some minutes. I'm annoyed. I wish somebody would answer it.	The phone rings for a few minutes. It annoys me. Well, at least someone would answer it.
I wish you would do something instead of just sitting and doing nothing.	It’s a shame that you don’t do anything instead of just sitting and doing nothing.
I wish the weather would change... I am so tired of rain.	If only the weather would change. I'm so tired of the rain.
I wish you would stop smoking.	It's a pity, that you don't stop smoking.
I wish some people would stop gossiping about me.	It's a shame that some people can't stop gossiping about me.

It is very important to pay attention to the fact that would in such sentences cannot be used with verbs denoting states - would must be followed by a verb characterizing a certain change or action. Let's compare:

action, change	condition
I wish George would come. / If only George came.	I wish George were here.(I wish George would be here) / Wish George is here.
I wish somebody would buy me a car. / If only someone bought me a car.	I wish I had a car. (I wish I would have a car.) / I wish I had a car.
I wish it would stop snowing. / Well, at least the snow would stop.	I wish it weren’t so snowy. ( I wish it wouldn’t be so snowy), It is a pity that there is so much snow.

Design I wish ... wouldn’t ... is often a complaint about things that people do on a regular basis, such as:

I wish you wouldn’t keep interrupting me.	I would like you to stop interrupting me.
I wish you wouldn ’ t constantly drive so fast.	I wish you didn't drive so fast all the time.
I wish jack wouldn’t always leave the door open.	I wish Jack didn't always leave the door open.
I wish you wouldn’t complain all the time.	I wish you didn't complain all the time.
I wish people wouldn't drop litter in the street.	I wish people would stop throwing garbage on the street.

Wish-Sentences schematic table

The above is a sentence with the I wish construction, but sometimes a schematic representation of a rule in the form of a memo table helps you to learn it faster, and most importantly, to remember it better.

I wish+ Past Simple / Continuous	regret about an unreal event in the present	I wish my friends were here to help me. I wish we could go there together.	It is a pity that my friends are not here, they would help me. It's a shame we can't go there together.
I wish + Past Perfect	regret about an accomplished or not accomplished event in the past	I wish I hadn’t told you about it. I wish that disaster hadn’t happened.	I'm sorry I told you about this. It's a shame that disaster happened.
I wish + would + the Infinitive withoutto(Future in the Past)	irritation about the lack of change in the situation, or irritation about a constantly repeated action	I wish I would stop losing things. I wish you wouldn’t tell me all your stories for so many times.	How I wish I could stop losing things. I wish you didn't tell me all your stories over and over again.

If only

The I wish construction in English grammar has a synonymous structure - If onl y:

If onl y used to express a strong desire to change the current situation. Basically, this structure means the same as I wish but stronger and more emotional. This construction can also be used to express unreal conditions and wishes in relation to the present, past or future:

regret about the present situation	If only + Past Past Simple / Continuous	If only I weren’t so exhausted. If only it weren’t raining so hard.	If only I weren’t so crazy about you. If it hadn't been raining so hard.
regretting a situation in the past	If only + Past Perfect	If only you hadn’t decided to go by plane. If only I had listened to what my parents had been telling me.	If you hadn’t decided to fly by plane then. If I could only listen to what my parents tell me.
a strong desire to change the state of affairs in the future or to show the contrast between how things are now and how we would like to see it in the future	If only + would + the Infinitive withoutto(Future in the Past)	If only somebody would offer me a good job. If only I would win a lot of money in a lottery.	I wish someone would offer me a good job. I wish I could win a lot of money in the lottery.

Appropriate use of constructs I wish and If only will help you to make your English speech vivid and expressive.