Wishes and regrets

Wishes and regrets

1. wishes about the present

   • we use wish with past tense forms (simple and continuous) to express regret about present situations
     • Example:
       • I wish I were taller
       • I wish I was dead already
         • I wish I was can replace: I wish I were
   • We use wish with could to express a wish to a present situation to be different.
     • Example:
       • I wish I coud use a computer well

2. wishes about the future

   • we use wish with would to say how we would like somebody to behave in the future
     • I wish You would stop talking
     • I wish They woud stop arguing
     • we can also use this pattern in situations that not involve people
       • I wish this car would go faster

3. Wishes about the past

   • we use wish with the past perfect when we have regrets about the past
     • I wish I hadn't taken your advice
       • I wish she coud have come
         • (=Buth She didn't)
       • (=But I did)

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