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wish

wish + infinitive​

We can use wish + infinitive to mean want. Wish is very formal in this sense. Note that progressive forms are not used.

  • I wish to see the manager, please. (not I’m wishing to see …)
  • If you wish to reserve a table, please telephone after five o’clock.

An object + infinitive structure is also possible.

  • We do not wish our names to appear in the report.

Wish + direct object is not normal without a following infinitive.

  • I want / would like an appointment with the manager. (not I wish an appointment with the manager.)

I wish you …​

Wish is used with two objects in some fixed expressions of good wishes.

  • I wish you a Merry Christmas.
  • We all wish you a speedy recovery.
  • Here’s wishing you all the best in your new job.

wish + that-clause: meaning​

We can also use wish with a that-clause (that can be dropped in an informal style). In this case, wish does not mean ‘want’ – it expresses regret that things are not different, and refers to situations that are unreal, impossible or unlikely. Tenses are similar to those used with if (see below).

  • I wish (that) I was better looking.
  • Don’t you wish (that) you could fly?
  • We all wish (that) the snow would stay forever.

Wish + that-clause is not generally used for wishes about things that seem possible in the future. We often use hope in this sense (see here).

  • I hope you pass your exams. (not I wish you would pass your exams.)
  • I hope you feel better tomorrow. (not I wish you felt better tomorrow.)

wish + that-clause: tenses​

In a that-clause after wish, we generally use the same tenses as we would use, for instance, after ‘It would be nice if …’ (see here). Past tenses are used with a present or future meaning.

  • I wish I spoke Japanese. (= It would be nice if I spoke Japanese.)
  • I wish I had a yacht.
  • I wish tomorrow was Sunday.
  • All the staff wish you weren’t leaving so soon.
  • Do you ever wish you lived somewhere else?

Were can be used instead of was in this structure, especially in a formal style.

  • I wish that I were better looking.

Past perfect tenses are used for wishes about the past.

  • I wish you hadn’t said that. (= It would be nice if you hadn’t said that.)
  • Now she wishes she had studied harder.

In informal speech, sentences like I wish you’d have seen it sometimes occur.

note

For similar structures with if, (see here).

wish … would​

Would is very common in that-clauses after wish (much more common than it is in if-clauses). Sentences with wish … would express regret or annoyance that something will not happen.

  • Everybody wishes you would go home. (= Why won’t you go home?)
  • I wish you would stop smoking. (= Why won’t you stop smoking?)
  • I wish Jack would call me. (But it looks as if he won’t.)
  • I wish it would stop raining. (= It will keep on raining!)
  • Don’t you wish that this moment would last forever?

Sentences with wish … wouldn’t refer to things that do or will happen.

  • I wish you wouldn’t keep making that stupid noise. (= You will keep making …)

Wish … would(n’t) can be like an order or a critical request. Compare:

  • I wish you wouldn’t drive so fast. (Similar to Please don’t drive so fast.)
    I wish you didn’t drive so fast. (More like I’m sorry you drive so fast.)
  • I wish you wouldn’t work on Sundays. (= Why don’t you stop?)
    I wish you didn’t work on Sundays. (= It’s a pity.)
note

For similar structures with if only, (see here).

For other cases where past tenses have present or future meanings, (see here).