Learning English

Learning is a lifelong effort. "Consider a language ... language serves to describe a combination of colored squares on a surface. The squares form a complex like a chessboard. There are red, green, white and black squares. The words of the language are 'red', 'green', 'white', 'black', and a sentence is a series of these words. They describe an arrangement of squares in an order." -- Ludwig Wittgenstein, philosopher (20th century)

The use of a wish in a sentece

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.

Posted by TP

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