As you remember, in English there are three main moods of the verb. These are indicative (Indicative mood), conditional (conditional mood) and imperative mood (imperative mood). The same moods are present in the Russian language. In English, there is also a subjunctive mood or subjunctive mood.

Construction I wish + verb and its application in practice

subjunctive mood in English, expresses the speaker's desire for someone to come, do, read, pass an exam, meet, etc. That is, a desire for some kind of action.

Indeed, what is this design and why is it here? But it is this grammatical combination that is one of the expressions of the subjunctive mood in English. Because subjunctive mood in English has many constructions, but today we are talking about “ I wish + verb».

This combination translates as I wish that..., I wish that...". For example:

  • I wish you spoke with Jane about that affair. “I would like you to talk to Jane about that case.
  • I wish Tom invited all our friends. I want Tom to invite all our friends.

Instead of the pronoun I (I), there can be any other pronoun or name, or noun. Eg:

  • Andrew wishes he read all the books of Mark Twain. Andrew would like to read all the books of Mark Twain.
  • She wishes she managed to speak with her teacher about her problems in English language. She would like to have time to talk to her teacher about her problems in English.

Construction "I wish + verb" and tenses of verbs

This construction in the subjunctive mood requires a certain tense of the verb after itself in English. Here, dear readers, it is important to remember the following two rules:

  • First: If I wish refers to the present or future tense, then the next verb after it must be in the simple past tense (Past Simple), or the second form of the verb if it is an irregular verb. Read these offers:

I wish you were here with me. “I want you to be here with me.
my sister wishes they worked more attentively. My sister wants them to work more carefully.

  • And second: If our construction refers to the past tense or itself in the past tense, that is I wished, then the next verb must be in the past tense (Past Perfect). This case expresses a past action, more often in an unreal, impossible condition. Pay attention to the following suggestions:

John wished he had passed all the exams. - John would like him to pass all the exams (most likely he did not pass them, that's why he would like to).
Martha wishes she had met all her friends. Martha would like to meet all her friends.

IMPORTANT! It must be remembered, friends, that if we use the construction I wish + verb to be, then the verb to be itself takes on the form were, regardless of person and number. For example, read these sentences and translate them:

  • I wish he were here. “I want him to be here.
  • Matthew wishes his mother were free on Sunday. Matthew wants his mother to be free on Sunday.
  • Sandra wishes I were with her on her exam. Sandra wants me to be with her on her exam.

Thus, this rule proves to us that this mood is not just a subjunctive, but a conditional subjunctive. This is our subjunctive mood.


 I wish construction and modal verbs

"I wish" and modal verbs

This grammatical thing is great friends with modal verbs. In whatever tense the wish verb is in the present or past, the modal verb that follows is in the simple past tense, that is, in the Past Simple.

It is only important to remember that each modal verb has its own form in the past tense. Pay attention to the following suggestions:

CAN: Andy wishes he could be stronger. Andy wishes he could be stronger.
MAY: Mary wishes she might spoke with her brother before the party. Mary wishes she could talk to her brother before the party.
MUST: We wished we had to be more courageous that day. “We wish we should have been more courageous that day.

The “I wish” design is easy!

This design is very easy to work with. Let's do grammar gymnastics with you! To get started, follow the proposals offered to you, in which various situations are played out. See how our construction and the verbs that follow it behave.

  • After holidays I am going to visit France. It's a pity I don't know French language. I wish I knew and spoken French. After the holidays I'm going to visit France. It's a pity that I don't know French. I wish I knew and spoke French.
  • John had shouted a lot. He had been very angry the day before yesterday. But he was sorry he had quarreled with his sister. He wished his sister had forgotten him. John screamed a lot. He was very angry the day before yesterday. But he regretted that he had quarreled with his sister. He wished his sister would forgive him.
  • What a pity that you did not pass the exam. Your parents would be upset. They wanted you had passed all your exams! What a pity you didn't pass the exam. Your parents will be in despair. They wanted you to pass all your exams!

Now try the following parenthesis opening exercise:

  1. He wishes he (to appoint) vice-minister.
  2. We wished the policeman (to succeed) in finding out the murderer.
  3. We wish our country (to be) more prosperous.

And here are the answers: 1-appointed; 2-had succeeded; 3-were

In this exercise, try to continue the sentences:

  1. I am sorry I have no chance to participate in the contest. I wish I…
  2. He regrets he could not convince us to postpone our trip. He wishes he…
  3. It's a pity she disappointed her parents. She wished she…

If you didn't get it right, here are the answers:

1-I wish I had a chance to participate in the contest; 2-he wishes he convinced us to postpone our trip; 3-she wished she hadn't disappointed her parents

As you can see, there is nothing complicated in this design. The main thing is to remember the two basic rules that this kind of subjunctive mood requires, and you will succeed! Good luck!

In order to understand and start using the I wish construction in English, I recommend that you first learn the construction and nature of conditional sentences - and also deal with the nuances - The phrase "I wish" already in itself means that the speaker expresses wish. For example, I wish John were here. - a statement that John is not here, and the speaker wants him to be here. (Translation: "Too bad John isn't here.")

I wish in English
wish + Past Simple

— a desire for something to be different in the present
(the speaker wants the action in the present to be different, different)

I wish you called me today.

Too bad you didn't call me today.

wish + past perfect

— regret about the past
(regret for past action)

I wish you had called me yesterday.

Too bad you didn't call me yesterday.

wish + would

criticism, complaint, dissatisfaction, or annoyance
(used to express criticism, complaint, dissatisfaction or irritation, annoyance)

I wish you would stop shouting. I find it hard to focus.

You better stop screaming. It's very difficult for me to concentrate.

BUT! "I wish I would" cannot be said!

wish + would - used to express a request, which often contains a hint of irritation

I wish you would help me. You could help me. = You could have offered to help me yourself, but I have to ask you myself.

wish + could + infinitive without "to"

— about something we are unable to do
(if it's something we can't do)

Too bad you don't remember his name.

I wish you could remember his name.

In order to deal with I wish, let's go from simple to complex, namely:

I wish - translation of affirmative sentences from English into Russian

Example 1 (wish + Past Simple):I wish I had a dog. How would you translate this sentence? At first, I suggest doing 2 translations:

1. verbatim (word-for-word / literal translation):

"I wish (that) I had a dog." Do such a translation to yourself and for yourself, in order to understand the meaning of the sentence.

2. literary (correct). A man wants to have a dog that he does not have. He regretfully says: I wish I had a dog. "I wish (that) I had a dog." = " It's a pity, because I don't have a dog. The most important thing is that the meaning of the literal and literary versions coincide.

Question: Does the speaker have a dog? Answer: no. That is, he talks about his desire, about something that does not exist in reality - this is the connection with the subordinate part of conditional sentences (Second Conditional). Let me remind you, for example: If I had a dog, I would be happy.

Compare:

I wish I had a dog.

If I had a dog…

Both ideas describe unreal action in present tense, so the verbs are in past tense(since all unreal actions are expressed in past tenses).

Example 2. (wish + Past Simple) I wish he came on time today.

Literally: I wish him to come on time today. But he did not come on time, so:

Literary: It's a pity he didn't come on time today.

Gradually try to reduce the literal translation to nothing and immediately translate literally.

Example 3 (wish + Past Simple). I wish I had a car. (I don't have a car, but I want it.) I wish I had a car.

Example 4. (wish + past perfect) I wish you had enjoyed the film. I'm sorry you didn't like the movie. - regret about the past action, about watching the movie that was before.

Example 5. (wish + would) I wish you wouldn't treat me like a child. I don't want (it annoys me that..) you treat me like a child.

I wish - translation of negative sentences from English into Russian

Example 6 I wish he weren't so rude.

I propose to make 2 translations again:

verbatim: I wish he wasn't so rude.

Literary: Too bad he's so rude.

Pay attention to the particle "not".

English: verb in the negative form.

English: there is no denial, there is only regret - “sorry”.

Example 7. We wish you hadn't arrived so late.

literally: We wish you did not come so late.

Literally: We are sorry that you arrived so late.

I wish - translation of sentences from Russian into English

This is the most important thing in sentences with I wish in English. Let's start with some examples:

Example 8 Too bad he can't come to the meeting.

Meaning: I wish he could come to the meeting.

Reality: He can't be at the meeting, sorry about that.

translation: I wish he could attend the meeting.

Example 9 Too bad she's already gone.

Meaning: I wish she didn't leave yet.

Reality: She's already gone, she's not here.

translation: I wish she hadn't gone.

Example 10 Too bad I can't fly.

Reality: I can't fly (which I regret).

Meaning: I wish I could fly.

translation: I wish I could fly.

Write your own sentences with I wish in Russian/Ukrainian and translate them into English following the structure. This is a great practice because everything that concerns us personally is usually remembered well and for a long time.

Task: Translate into English using "I wish":

  1. Too bad you didn't tell me about this last week.
  2. .It is a pity that you are not interested in history.
  3. We are sorry that you did not mention this news. (We would like you to mention this news.)
  4. Wish I started this course (I wish I had never started it.)
  5. It's a pity that I'm not going with you tomorrow.
  6. It's a pity you're sick.
  7. Too bad it's not summer.
  8. Too bad my sister didn't accept my offer.
  9. You'd better not pick me up.
  10. When will this song finally end! (I wish this song would end soon!)
  1. I wish you had told me about it last week.
  2. I wish you were interested in history.
  3. We wish you mentioned this news.
  4. I wish I had never started this course.
  5. I wish I were coming with you tomorrow.
  6. I wish you were not ill.
  7. I wish it were summer now.
  8. I wish my sister had accepted my offer.
  9. I wish you hadn't given me a lift.
  10. I wish the song would finish!

In contact with

Some difficulties arise in the perception of the subordinate clause. Design I wish is synonymous with I want to(I want) or I would like to(I would like to) but with a hint of regret.

For example: It is a pity that I did not convince Anna to go to the doctor.

This phrase can be said differently: I would like to convince Anna to go to the doctor.

When translated into English, it will look like this: I wish I convinced Ann to go to the doctor. (I want Annd to go to the doctor, it turned out, by the way).

Thus, you just need to remember that when using the construction I wish necessary change affirmative to negative and vice versa.

I wish you didn't go here. It's a shame you went there.

I wish you went there. Too bad you didn't go there.

Too bad it's snowing. I wish it wasn't snowing.

Maria is sorry that we can NOT go to the theater. Maria wishes we could go to the theatre.

Let us clarify in what tense the predicate is used in the subordinate clause.

Predicate forms in a subordinate clause

  • The action takes place in the present or future. Use Past Simple (simple past tense) or Past Continuous if the action is in progress.
  • The action has already happened. Used Past Perfect (past perfect).

For example:

I wish Alex could do it! If only Alex could do it!

I wish Alex didn't do it. Too bad Alex is doing this.

I wish Alex had done it. Too bad Alex didn't do it.

I wish Alex hadn't done it. Too bad Alex did it.

Design I wish…would expresses extreme dissatisfaction with the current situation.

For example:

I wish he would stop drinking. Too bad he won't stop drinking! (He drinks, it annoys me).

Proper use of design I wish enhance your English speech.

I wish I were

Deserves special attention construction I wish I were, namely, the distorted form of Past Simple in this example (instead of the usual was in the first person singular, we meet were). Is it right to say so? Actually, yes. Strict says that instead of I was, you need to say and write I were. Apparently, this happened because it allows you to further emphasize unreality of the event. And in spoken English, as well as in TV shows, they say I wish I was, remember this!

wishes table

Difficult? Let's summarize all the data in a clear table:

Grammatical form Usage Examples
TYPE #1: regret about present I wish (if only) + Past Simple or Could Regret about the events taking place in the present tense. What we want to change now. Could expresses a lack of physical ability. I wish I were more courageous. I wish I could drive a car.
TYPE #2: An unlikely desire to change things in the future I wish (if only) + Would The desire to change something in the future, an expression of extreme dissatisfaction or uncertainty. I wish he would prepare for his exams. I wish you would stop smoking.
TYPE #3: regretting the past I wish (if only) + Past Perfect Regret for something that happened or didn't happen. I wish I had gone to the party last night.

If only is a more expressive form of the I wish construction.

With the help of the I wish construction, we can express our wishes. They can refer to the past, present, and future.

The present

For the present, we can use the following construction:

I wish / If only + Past Simple

past simple used for states.

I wish I were a millionaire! - How I wish be millionaire!

If only I were a millionaire! - If only I was millionaire!

That is, a person wants to be a millionaire in the present, but is not one. As you can see the form were is preferred for all persons, as in the second type of conditional sentences.

It is also possible to use time Past Continuous

I wish / If only + Past Continuous

Past Continuous used for actions.

I wish I was lying on the beach now. - How I wish Now lie on the beach.

If only I was lying on the beach now. - If only me now lay on the beach.

Future

If we want something to change in the future, we use the following construct:

I wish / If only + subject + would + V 1

I wish the dog would stop barking. - How I wish, to dog stopped bark.

If only the dog would stop barking. - If only dog stopped bark.

That is, we do not like the current situation, we want it to change. Please note that after I wish / If only and before would there must be different subjects. We can't tell I wish I would…

Past

Here we express regret for the past. For this, the following construction is used:

I wish / If only + Past Perfect

I wish I had studied better. - How I wish study better.
If only I had studied better. - If only I studied better.

In this case, the speaker regrets that he did not study well in the past.

SENTENCES STARTING WITH I WISH. Theory.

A special group of the subjunctive mood is made up of sentences that begin with the words I wish(How I wish that...). Such proposals express

  • or a wish for a change in the situation in the present (unreal present),
  • or regret about an event that has already happened / has not happened in the past (unreal past).
  • or wishes for a change in the situation in the future (desired future)

I wish in sentences relating to the present.

Sentences expressing wishes and related to present tense

How I wish that... / It's a pity that

  • simple past
  • Past Continuous
  • could + infinitive without to

Examples with translation:

I wish it wasn't raining now. - I wish it wasn't raining now. (Sorry it's raining now.)

I wish I could speak. French. I wish I could speak French. (I'm sorry I can't speak French.)

Note!

In such sentences, the verb to be is used in the form of the subjunctive were(would be, would be, would be) for all persons singular and plural.

I wish he were here now. “I wish he was here. (Too bad he's not here now).

I wish I were a pilot. What a pity that I am not a pilot.

Sentences beginning with I wish, in which a wish is expressed regarding a change in the situation in the present, correlate with (unreal present):

I wish I were lying on the beach at the moment. — If I were lying on the I beach, it would be better. How I wish I was lying on the beach right now.

I wish I knew the answer. = If I knew the answer, it would be better. — How I wish I knew the answer.

I wish I could get a better job. = If I could get a better job, it would be / better. How I wish I had a better job.

Wish in sentences referring to the past.

Sentences expressing regret and related to past tense, translated into Russian:

What a pity that...

How I wish that...

After wish in such sentences is used

  • past perfect,
  • Past Perfect Continuous

I wish you had time then. “I wish you had time then. (Too bad you didn't have time then.)

I wish I had known that Ann was ill. “I wish I knew Anna was ill.

Sentences beginning with I wish, expressing regret about an event that has already happened / did not happen in the past, correlate with:

I wish I had met him earlier. = If I had met him earlier, it would have changed my life. What a pity I didn't meet him sooner. If only I had met him earlier...

I wish I had been wiser. = If I had been wiser, I wouldn't have done I such a silly thing. What a pity that I was not wiser. / If only I were wiser...

I wish I hadn't eaten so much chocolate. = If I hadn't eaten so I much chocolate, I wouldn't feel ill now. What a pity I ate so much chocolate. / If only I hadn't eaten so much chocolate...

I wish in sentences referring to the future.

If the action expressed by the predicate of the additional subordinate clause expresses a desire to change something in the present or future, then after wish it is used

  • would + infinitive

I wish he would stop lying. I wish he would stop lying.

Sentences that begin with I wish, in which a wish is expressed for the future, correlate with:

I wish he would stop lying. – If he stops lying it will be better.

Sentences with if only.

Instead of words I wish can be used if only. Such sentences are more emotionally colored compared to sentences with I wish. They can be translated into Russian with the words "If only ...", "How I wish ...".

If only I were rich. “If only I were rich. = I wish I were rich.

I wish / if only: exercises with answers.

Exercise 1. Put the verbs given in brackets into the correct form.

  1. I wish I __________ (be) taller so that I could be in the basketball team.
  2. I wish I ___________ (can drive) a car and we could go traveling.
  3. The Browns live in the city, but they wish they ________ (live) in the suburbs.
  4. Robert can't dance very well, but he wishes he ________ (can dance) better.
  5. Kate is having a hard time learning English at the University. She wishes she ________ (study) it better at school.
  6. Mike didn't go to college after school. Now, he wishes he ________ (go) to college.
  7. The weather was hot while we were there. I wish it _________ (be) a bit cooler.
  8. I wish you ________ (stop) watching TV while I am talking to you.
  9. I wish she _________ (can come) yesterday but she had an important meeting.
  10. I wish I __________ (know) someone to whom I could have gone for advice when I was 18.

Exercise 2. Open the brackets using the appropriate form of the subjunctive after "I wish".

  1. The weather was awful. I wish it __________ (to be) better.
  2. I wish I __________ (to know) Sue's telephone number.
  3. I wish it__________ (not to rain) so much in England last week.
  4. Do you wish you __________ (to study) science instead of languages ​​last year?
  5. I feel sick. I wish I __________ (not to eat) so much.
  6. It's crowded here. I wish there __________ (not to be) so many people.
  7. I wish I __________ (to be) taller.
  8. I wish you __________ (stop) shouting. I am not dead you know.
  9. I wish he__________ (to borrow) that book from the library last week.
  10. I wish you__________ (to give) him my phone number at that party.
  11. I wish it __________ (to stop) raining.
  12. I wish I ________ (can speak) several languages.
  13. If only I _______ (to have) the chance to study when I was younger.

Exercise 3. Underline the correct option.

1) I wish he... (will get/got/would get) on better with his parents.

2) I wish you... (stopped/will stop/ would stop) talking at the lessons.

3) I wish I... (have/had/had) more money.

4) If only I... (was having / have had / had had) the chance to study when I was younger.

5) If only I... (would keep / kept / had kept) my appointment with the dentist yesterday. I wouldn't have toothache now.

6) If only you... (will/would/ wouldn't) make less noise.

7) I wish I ... (had been / hadn "t been / weren" t) disappointed after such an inspiring speech yesterday.

8) If only you ... (had been / would be / were) tolerant of each other "s moods in your family! You would get on better.

9) I wish I... (had learned / learned / have learned) to trust my own judgments in my childhood.

Answers to exercises.

Exercise 1.

1 were, 2 could drive, 3 lived, 4 could dance, 5 had studied, 6 had gone, 7 had been, 8 stopped, 9 could have come, 10 had known

Exercise 2.

1 had been, 2 knew, 3 hadn't rained / hadn't been raining, 4 had studied / had been studying, 5 hadn't eaten, 6 were not, 7 were, 8 would stop, 9 had borrowed, 10 had given, 11 would stop, 12 could speak, 13 had had

Exercise 3

1 would get, 2 would stop, 3 had, 4 had had, 5 had kept, 6 would, 7 hadn "t been, 8 would be, 9 had learned