1. Structures after WISH

2. Wish + past simple
I wish I was more assertive. I would be a better manager.
My boss wishes he could speak English better.
To talk about things you would like to be different in the present/future (but which are impossible or unlikely).
After Wish you can use was or were with I, he, she, and it.
Ex: I wish I were more assertive.

3. Wish + would/wouldn’t I wish the bell would ring. I need to go now.
I wish you would stop phoning me today I have a lot of other work to do.
Use wish+person/thing + would to talk about things we want to happen, or stop happening because they annoy us. (something irritating which you want to stop or change)
You can’t use would for a wish about yourself:
Ex: I wish I would pass this exam.

4. WISH + past perfect
I wish you had taken out a larger loan. We still can’t afford to buy this house.
I wish we hadn’t gone into partnership. The company is now doing worse than before.
We use this form to talk about things that happened or didn’t happen in the past and which you now regret.

5. If only… instead of I wish …
You can also use if only instead of I wish with all these tenses:
Eg: If only we hadn’t gone into partnership.
Eg: If only I were more assertive.
Eg: If only the bell would ring.
Eg: If only you would stop phoning.

6. Circle the correct form
I wish I were/would be richer.
She wishes her parents lived/would live nearer.
I wish I had/would have passed all my exams last term. I would now be on holiday.
James wishes he knew/would know how to speak better English.
I wish it stopped/would stop raining.
I wish I had/would have seen that film. It’s now gone.
I wish I were/would be younger.
I wish the phone would stop/stopped ringing. I can’t concentrate.
I wish I hadn’t/ wouldn’t have spent all my money last night.

7. Key - Circle the correct form
I wish I were/would be richer.
She wishes her parents lived/would live nearer.
I wish I had/would have passed all my exams last term. I would now be on holiday.
James wishes he knew/would know how to speak better English.
I wish it stopped/would stop raining.
I wish I had/would have seen that film. It’s now gone.
I wish I were/would be younger.
I wish the phone would stop/stopped ringing. I can’t concentrate.
I wish I hadn’t/ wouldn’t have spent all my money last night.