WISHES

                                                                                   WISHES                                                                               

We use past tense forms to talk about wishes:

• We use past tense modals would and could to talk about wishes for the future:

– I don’t like my work. I wish I could get a better job.

 – That’s 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.

•  We use past tense forms to talk about wishes for the present:

– I don’t like this place. I wish I lived in somewhere more interesting.
– These seats are very uncomfortable. I wish we were travelling first class.
– Everyone wishes they had more free time.
– John wishes he wasn’t so busy.
– I wish it wasn’t so cold.

• 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 hadn’t spent so much money last month.

From learnenglish.britishcouncil.org