WISHES

1. What are wishes?

Whishes are feelings or expressions of strong desire or hope for something that
could happen or probably will happen. Depending on the situation different
structures are use.

SITUATION
Wishes for present and
future situations

Wishes for the

impossible: for unlikely
or impossible situations
and to express regrets.
Wishes on other people:
we would like people to
do or not to do
Past regrets.

WISHES
STRUCTURE
Wish
Want to
infinitive
Would like

Wish (that)+ past

tenses
Wish + someone+
would
Want + someone + to
Wish + past
perfectperfec

EXAMPLE
I wish to talk to Mr.
President, please.
I want to study abroad
next year.
I would like a cup a
coffee, please.
I wish I lived in the USA
(You live in Colombia)
I wish I were taller.
(You are a short person)
I wish you let me alone.
I want you to clean the
house.
I wish I had read the
book.
I wish I had not gone to
the party.

Tip: You use were instead of was when expressing a wish for the impossible.
This transmits the idea that that you are talking about something that is
unlikely to happen. I wish I were you (it is impossible to be another person.).) I
wish I were at home (you are working and you cannot be at home at thatthis
moment).
2. Common structures to express wishes en English.
There are some common structures that you are to use when you want to
express a wish in English.
2.1. Would and Could to talk about wishes for the future
We use past tense modals would and could to talk about wishes for the future:
I dont like my house. I wish I could get a better place to live in.
Thats a dreadful noise. I wish it would stop.
I always have to get home early. I wish my parents would let me stay out later.

2.2. Simple past to talk about wishes for the present

We use past tense forms to talk about wishes for the present:
I dont like this place. I wish I lived in somewhere more interesting.
Everybody wishes they had more free time.
Andrs wishes he wasnt so busy.
2.3 Past perfect to talk about wishes for the past
We use the past perfect to talk about wishes for the past:
I wish I had worked harder when I was at school.
Mary wishes she had listened to what her mother told her.
I wish I hadnt spent so much money last month.
Tip: This structure it is also known as wishes for the impossible.
2.4 Hopes and wishes: hope that + present / future
Note that for wishes about things that are positive and seem likely in the
future, we normally use hope + that-clause with present simple or future will
forms:
I can see you're not well now, but I hope you recover in time for the match.
You are tired; however, I hope you come to the party.