How to Use Wish in English Grammar

Contents

Using the verb “wish” in English grammar helps you express desires for situations to be different from what they actually are. This reference covers various structures like “Wish + Past Simple,” “Wish + Past Continuous,” “Wish + Past Perfect,” “Wish + Would,” and “Wish + To Infinitive.” It provides clear rules and examples to help you understand how to use each form correctly.

You’ll also explore how to express wishes with sentences and images, learn about “I Wish/If Only” phrases, and delve into conditionals involving “wish” and “unless.” By mastering these structures, you can more effectively communicate your desires and hypothetical situations in English.

Wish + Past Simple

To express wanting a situation in the present or future to be different:

Examples:

I wish I ate more vegetables. (I don’t eat more vegetables.)
He wishes he had a new house. (He does not have a new house.)
They wish it was August. (It isn’t August.)
I wish I had a bigger car. (My car is too small.)
I wish it was the summer holidays. (It isn’t; I’m still at school.)

Wish + Past Continuous

To express wanting to be doing a different activity now or in the future:

Examples:

I wish I was playing badminton now. (I’m studying English.)
I wish it weren’t raining now. (It is raining now.)
I wish you were coming to my party next week. (You are not coming to my party next week.)

Wish + Past Perfect

This is used to express regret about a past situation:

Examples:

They wish they hadn’t lost the photo. It was a really good one. (They lost the photo.)
I wish I hadn’t done it. (I did it.)
He wishes he had studied more for their exam. (They didn’t study more for their exam.)
He wishes he had studied harder when he was at school. (He didn’t study hard enough.)
They wish they hadn’t scored that goal! (They scored a goal and probably won’t win the match.)

Wish + Would

To express wanting something to happen:

Examples:

I wish my car would start. (It won’t start and I want it to start.)
I wish the lesson would end. (I want it to end.)

To express wanting someone to start doing something they don’t do:

Example:

I wish you’d listen to me!

To express wanting someone to stop doing something that annoys us:

Examples:

I wish you wouldn’t borrow my clothes!
I wish my mum wouldn’t phone me every five minutes!

Wish + To Infinitive

To express “want” in a formal situation using “wish + to infinitive”:

Example:

I wish to make a complaint and would like to see the manager.

We can use “subject + wish + someone” as a fixed expression to congratulate or wish them well:

Examples:

We wish you a Merry Christmas.
We wish you a Happy Birthday.
I wish her luck in her new career.
She wishes her sister the best of happiness.

I Wish/ If Only

I wish and If only are phrases you can use when you want something to be different or when you feel regret. I wish… sentences are often paired with If only… sentences.

Examples:

I wish I could fly. = If only I could fly.
I wish they would stop fighting. = If only they would stop fighting.

You can also use were/weren’t instead of was/wasn’t.

Example:

I wish I were home now./I wish I was home now.

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Grammargeek

An experienced English grammar teacher since 2015, with a dedication to helping students improve their language skills.