How to express wishes In English

Conversação Gramática Geral

How to Use Wish in English Grammar

Wish + Past Simple

To express that we want a situation in the present (or future) to be different.

Examples:

  • I wish I ate more vegetables.  (I don’t eat more vegetables.)
  • He wishes he had a new house. (He does not have a new house.)
  • They wish it was August. (It isn’t August.)
  • I wish I had a bigger car. (Because my car is too small).
  • I wish it was the summer holidays (but it isn’t – I’m still at school).

Wish + Past Continuous

To express that we want to be doing a different activity in the present (or the future).

Examples:

  • I wish I was playing badminton now. (I’m studying English.)
  • I wish it weren’t raining now. (It is raining now.)
  • I wish you were coming to my party next week. (You are not coming to my party next week.)

Wish + Past Perfect

This wish grammar structure expresses regret. This means we want to be able to change a situation in the past.

Encontre o professor particular perfeito

Wish sentences:

  • They wish they hadn’t lost the photo. It was a really good one. (They lost the photo.)
  • I wish I hadn’t done it. (I did it.)
  • He wishes he had studied more for their exam. (They didn’t study more for their exam.)
  • He wishes he had studied harder when he was at school. (He didn’t study hard enough – perhaps if he had studied harder he would have gone to university.)
  • They wish they hadn’t scored that goal! (They scored a goal and as a result they probably won’t win the match).

Wish + Would

To express that we want something to happen.

Examples:

  • I wish my car would start. (I can’t make it start and I want it to start).
  • I wish the lesson would end. (I want it to end).

To express that we want someone to start doing something they do not do.

Tutoria com Inteligência Artificial

Tecnologia do ChatGPT. Use texto, áudio, fotos, imagens e arquivos.

Example:

  • I wish you’d listen to me!

To express that we want someone to stop doing something which annoys us.

Examples:

  • I wish you wouldn’t borrow my clothes!
  • I wish my mum wouldn’t phone me every five minutes!

Wish + To Infinitive

We can also use “wish” to express “want” in a formal situation, by using wish + to infinitive.

Example:

  • I wish to make a complaint and would like to see the manager.

Note: We can use subject + wish + someone as a fixed expression to congratulate them or desire them well.

Wish sentences examples:

  • We wish you a Merry Christmas.
  • We wish you a Happy Birthday.
  • I wish her luck in her new career.
  • She wishes her sister the best of happiness.

Artigos similares

Aprenda do seu jeito, no seu ritmo