wish and I wish
wish + past simple for present regrets; wish + past perfect for past regrets; wish + would for annoying habits.
A — Sample sentences
Words like forehead, wrist, ankle, muscle, spine, lungs, and joint.
1) wish + past simple — present situation we want to change
Like a Type 2 conditional without if.
- I wish I didn't have this headache.
- She wishes her wrist didn't hurt when she types.
- He wishes he were stronger — his muscles ache after exercise.
- They wish they didn't feel pain in their joints every morning.
2) wish + past perfect — regret about the past
Something happened and we want to change it.
- I wish I hadn't fallen on my ankle last week.
- She wishes she had gone to the doctor sooner.
- He wishes he hadn't ignored the pain in his spine.
- They wish they had rested their lungs after the illness.
3) wish + would — annoyance about someone else's behaviour
We want another person to change (not ourselves).
- I wish the doctor would call me back today.
- She wishes her neighbour would stop making noise — it hurts her head.
- He wishes the nurse would explain the treatment more clearly.
- I wish my back would stop aching.
The rest of this lesson is in the General English course:
- B — Quick reference
Try it: Choose the correct wish form
Pick the best answer.
- I wish I ___ this pain in my knee.
(a) don't have (b) didn't have (c) hadn't had - She wishes she ___ the doctor before the pain got worse.
(a) sees (b) saw (c) had seen - I wish the swelling ___ go down.
(a) will (b) would (c) had - He wishes his forehead ___ so hot.
(a) isn't (b) weren't (c) hadn't been
Check your answers in the course — it marks them instantly. This is one of the unit's 4 exercises; the other 3 are in the General English course too.
Practise this unit in the course →