FORMS OF “WISH”PETER MANGIARACINA

11

THREE FORMS OF WISHTHREE FORMS OF WISH

• Wish in the present

• Wish in the past

• Using “If only…”

22

TWO CLAUSES

• Sentences with forms of wish usually contain two clauses:

I wish (that) I had a million dollars.

33

Clause Clause 11

Clause Clause 22

PRESENT FORM OF WISH

44

The True SituationThe True Situation Expressing a WishExpressing a Wish ExplanationExplanation

I donI don’’t know how to dance.t know how to dance. I wish (that) I I wish (that) I knewknew how to dance. how to dance. People make wishes when they People make wishes when they want reality to be different. Itwant reality to be different. It’’s s not necessary to use not necessary to use ““thatthat”” to to subordinate the clause.subordinate the clause.I have to work tonight.I have to work tonight. I wish I I wish I didndidn’’t have tot have to work tonight work tonight

II’’m not rich.m not rich. I wish I I wish I werewere rich. rich. ““WereWere”” is used for all subjects. is used for all subjects.

You drive too fast.You drive too fast. I wish you I wish you wouldnwouldn’’t drivet drive so fast. so fast. ““WouldWould”” is used to admonish or is used to admonish or make general wishes about the make general wishes about the future.future.No one has invented a No one has invented a

teleportation machine.teleportation machine.I wish someone I wish someone would inventwould invent a a teleportation machine.teleportation machine.

• Note the use of the past tense in the second (noun) clause.

PAST FORM OF WISH

• Note the use of the past perfect in the second (noun) clause.

55

The True SituationThe True Situation Expressing a WishExpressing a Wish ExplanationExplanation

a.a. I I didndidn’’t studyt study for the test. I for the test. I failed.failed.

b.b. Dr. Marvin Dr. Marvin didndidn’’t finisht finish writing writing his book before he died. His his book before he died. His books are great.books are great.

c.c. I I wentwent to the meeting. It was to the meeting. It was boring.boring.

a.a. I wish I I wish I had studiedhad studied for the for the test.test.

b.b. I wish he I wish he had finishedhad finished his book his book before he died.before he died.

c.c. I wish I I wish I hadnhadn’’t gonet gone to that to that meeting.meeting.

The past form of wish is about a The past form of wish is about a regret about the past.regret about the past.

USING “IF ONLY”

• Two clauses as with “I wish.”

• Stronger than “I wish.”

• Same constructions for present and past forms as with“I wish.”

66

EXAMPLES FOR “IF ONLY”

• I wasn’t paying attention and I locked my keys in the car.

• If only I had been paying attention!

• My neighbors have been arguing for the past two hours.

• If only they would stop! They’re driving me crazy!

• I’m not rich. I can’t date Jennifer Anniston.

• If only I were rich!

77