Wishes

Wishes

Open Ended

If you were granted a wish, what would you wish for?

Multiple Select

Choose two options about these sentence:

I wish I had a big car.

• I have a big car.

• I don't have a big car.

• I'm talking about the present.

• I'm talking about the past.

Multiple Select

Choose two options about these sentence:

I wish I'd gone to university.

• I went to university

• I didn't go to university.

• I'm talking about the present.

• I'm talking about the past.

Multiple Select

Choose two options about these sentence:

If only she'd take the job.

• She has agreed to take the new job.

• She hasn't agreed to take the new job.

• I'm talking about the present/future.

• I'm talking about the past.

Multiple Select

Choose two options about these sentence:

I wish I could agree with you.

• I agree with you.

• I don't agree with you.

• I'm talking about the present.

• I'm talking about the past.

Multiple Select

Choose two options about these sentence:

I wish they hadn't called the police.

• The called the police.

• They didn't call the police.

• I'm talking about the present.

• I'm talking about the past.

wish + past simple

This expresses an unrealistic desire for the present situation to be different. The desire is unrealistic because there is very little chance of the change occurring.

Using were instead of was is more formal and more common on written English:

He wishes he were rich. or He wishes he was rich.

wish + past perfect

This expresses a desire that an action or event in the past had been different.

It could also be seen as a regret about something which happened or didn't happen in the past.

wish + would

This expresses annoyance with a person or situation and a desire for a situation to change, either now or in the future. This change could possibly occur, but we do not expect it to. It generally depends on action from some other person or thing.

You cannot use the same subject in both clauses:

I wish she would not take my things without permission.

After the subject I and we, we can use could instead of would to talk about a change you would like to make:

I wish I could fly!

I wish I could stay at home tomorrow.

We can replace I wish with if only for emphasis:

I wish I owned a helicopter. = If only I owned a helicopter.

I wish I hadn't eaten so much. = If only I hadn't eaten so much.

I wish he wouldn't be so noisy. = If only he wouldn't be so noisy.

would rather (same subjects)

• We use it to express preference.

• would rather + bare infinitive --> present / future: I'd rather go to the cinema tomorrow afternoon.

• would rather + perfect bare infinitive --> past : I'd rather have gone to museum with Tom.

• would rather + bare infinitive + than (bare infinitive): I'd rather go to the concert than go with Doug.

would rather (different subjects)

• would rather + past tense --> present / future : I'd rather John finished the article before he leaves.

• would rather + past perfect --> past: I'd rather we had arrived at the theater earlier because we missed the start of the play.