I have noticed that several students have been confused with the use of the word wish and its grammar. Here are some ways to help with this confusion.
Wishes about the present & future
You may use a wish that talks about a present or future situation. If so you remember that we use the wish and past simple to express that we want a situation in the present or future to be different.
For example: I wish I spoke Italian. This means, I don't speak Italian.
Or we may use wish and past continuous to express that we want to be doing a different action in the present or in the future.
For example: I wish it wasn't raining. This means, it is raining.
Wishes about the past
Now, if we want to express a wish about the past, we use wish and past perfect to express regret, or that we want a situation in the past to be different.
For example: I wish I had studied harder at school. This means, I was lazy at school. If I had studied harder, I may have gotten into a better University or a better job.
Wish + would
Last we look at the wish and would. We use wish together with would and the bare infinitive to express impatience, annoyance or dissatisfaction with a present action.
For example: I wish she would be quiet. This means, I am annoyed because she is speaking.It might be also used to ask someone politely, as in the above sentenced, someone is very noisy and you may say: I wish you would be quite.
