WISH (expressing regret))bac

rafai الثلاثاء 1 يونيو 2010 - 15:47

Expressing regret

wishes about the present & future

We use wish + past simpleto express that we want a situation in the present (or future) to be different.

I wish I spoke Italian. (I don't speak Italian)
I wish I had a big car. (I don't have a big car)
I wish I was on a beach. (I'm in the office)
Future: I wish it was the weekend tomorrow. (It's only Thursday
tomorrow)

We use wish + past continuous to express that we want
to be doing a different action in the present (or future).
I wish I was lying on a beach now. (I'm sitting in the office)
I wish it wasn't raining. (It is raining)
Future: I wish you weren't leaving tomorrow. (You are leaving tomorrow)

wishes about the past

We use wish + past perfect to express a regret, or
that we want a situation in the past to be different.
I wish I hadn't eaten so much. (I ate a lot)
I wish they'd come on holiday with us. (They didn't come on
holiday with us)
I wish I had studied harder at school. (I was lazy at school)

wish + would

We use wish + would + bare infinitive to express impatience,
annoyance or dissatisfaction with a present action.
I wish you would stop smoking.
(You are smoking at the moment and it is annoying me)
I wish it would stop raining.
(I'm impatient because it is raining and I want to go outside)
I wish she'd be quiet.
(I am annoyed because she is speaking)