Grammar: 'Wish' For Present, Past & Future Wishes - How to Use + Example Sentence
- Oct 19, 2022
- 8 min read
Updated: Apr 13
1. How to use WISH in English grammar?
The English word WISH can be used as a 'verb' or 'noun'.
WISH has different meanings in the way it's used in a sentence.
- Here, we are using WISH when we wish 'reality' is different from the 'present' situation.
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When to use WISH for talking about wishes - Example Situation
- We say [WISH + different verb tense for present, past & future wishes]:
'Present Wish'- you feel sorry or not happy about present situation
'Past Wish' - for regrets
'Future Wish' - for hopes & complaints
3. How to use WISH in a sentence the correct way for present, past & future wishes - Example Sentence
1. Oh dear! Lily's orchids died again. I wish she watered the plants regularly.
2. Mia hasn't met her new neighbour yet. She wishes she knew more about him.
3. The sun's out. I wish I had watered the plants before work this morning.
4. The children are feeling hungry. They wish they hadn't skipped breakfast earlier.
5. My curry dish is too spicy. I wish I had added a bit more sugar.
6. Dominic spends most of his time playing video games. I wish he would study more.
7. David hates his job in the city. He wishes he could work on a farm some day.
📩 Free Download:
How to Form WISH + Past Simple to talk about *present wish:
a. (Positive)
I / we / they wish (that) + subject + verb (Past Simple)
he / she / it wishes (that) + subject + verb (Past Simple)
b. (Negative)
I / we / they wish (that) + subject + verb (negative) Past Simple
he / she / it wishes (that) + subject + verb (negative) Past Simple
*(that) is optional
📌 Use (wish + Past Simple) for 'Present Wish' - Example Situation
✅ when you feel sorry or not happy about the present situation,
✅*You wish the present situation is opposite or different from reality.
i. ✍🏻 (Present wish) - Form: [WISH + past simple]
- (Reality)
e.g. The weather is too hot. (present situation)
(Present wish)
🗣️ I wish (that) it wasn't so hot today.
🗣️ I wish it was raining today.
🗣️ I wish it was cold today.
"Today's weather is too hot."
🗣️I wish (that) I lived somewhere colder.
🗣️I wish I didn't live in the tropics.
🗣️I wish I was somewhere else.
📚 Need to review the Past Simple?
👉 Past Simple tense: How to Use +Examples
4. How to Form WISH + Past Perfect to talk about *past wish or regrets about the past
a. (Positive)
- I / we / they wish + subject + verb (Past Perfect)
- he / she / it wishes + subject + verb (Past Perfect)
b. (Negative)
- I / we / they wish + subject + verb (negative) Past Perfect
- he / she / it wishes + subject + verb (negative) Past Perfect
✍🏻Use (Wish + Past Perfect Tense) - Example Situation
- 'Past Wish': to refer to *past wish or regrets about the past
📌 (Past wish) - Form: 'wish' + past perfect
e.g.
(Reality) Josh stayed up late last night. (Now he's feeling tired.)
Past Wish - (Regret)
🗣️Josh wishes he hadn't stayed up late last night.
🗣️ Josh wishes he had gone to bed earlier.
e.g.
- (Reality) Jill didn't listen to her mum's advice in the past. (Now she regrets it.)
'Past Wish' - (Regret)
🗣️ Jill wishes she had listened to her mum's advice.
🗣️Jill wishes she had not been so stubborn.
📚 Need to review the Past Perfect?
5. How to Form [WISH + would'] to talk about: future wish or hopes for the future
a. (Positive)
- I / we / they wish + subject + would
- he / she / it wishes + subject + would
b. (Negative)
- I / we / they wish + subject + would not (wouldn't)
- he / she / it wishes + subject + would not (wouldn't)
How to Use [WISH + would] to refer to *future wishes
- Example Sentence
- 'Future Wish' - (Hopes & Complaints)
- Form: 'wish' + would
i. (Reality) My neighbour is always noisy.
🗣️I wish my neighbour would stop yelling at their kids.
🗣️I wish my neighbour wouldn't be so noisy.
ii. (Reality) Her husband always comes home late after work.
🗣️She wishes her husband wouldn't come home late all the time.
🗣️She wishes her husband would leave work early.
How to Use [WISH + could] - to refer to **future wishes
- Example Situation
- **talk about hopes about the future for oneself / themselves
'Future Wish' - (Hopes & Complaints)
e.g.
(Reality) He lives in a small apartment.
🗣️He wishes he could live in a bigger house one day.
e.g.
(Reality) I can't swim.
🗣️ I wish I could swim someday soon.
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🎬 Quick Recap!
(Present, Past, Future Wish)
1. Present wish - (wish + past simple)
2. Past wish - (wish + past perfect)
3. Future wish (hopes & complaints):
- (wish + would)
- (wish + could)
6. Let's Practise! Using WISH - 4 Ways
What are some of the things you like to change about your life?
I wish...
I wish I was older.
I wish I didn't have so much homework.
I wish I had a bigger room.
I wish I didn't have to share my room with my sister Claire.
I wish I had studied harder for my test.
I wish I could sing better.
I wish mum would buy more dresses for me.
I wish life wasn't so difficult!
🎯 TIP!
Note that reality and wish are opposites in the sentences. Look out for the tense used in the reality situation.
📌Reality / Wish
1. Kimberly is young. (reality)
→ Kimberly wishes she was older. (wish)
2. She has a lot of homework.
→ She wishes she didn't have so much homework.
3. Her room is not big enough/small.
→She wishes she had a bigger room.
4. She shares room with her sister.
→ She wishes she didn't have to share a room with with her sister Claire.
5. She failed her test.
→ She wishes she had studied harder for her test.
6. She doesn't sing well enough.
→ She wishes she could sing better.
7. Mum doesn't buy her enough dresses.
→ She wishes mum would buy more dresses for her.
8. Life is so difficult!
→ She wishes life wasn't so difficult!
🎯Grammar Point!
- Note the tense change for Reality / Wish situation:
Tense changes for the following:
✅ (Present wish) ➡️ Past Simple
✅ (Past wish) ➡️ Past Perfect
✅ (Future wish) ➡️ would / could
7. Conversation Example - Past, Present Future Wishes
🗣️ 2 friends are talking about their wishes.
👩🦱 Linda: Hi Sandra.
👩🦰 Sandra: Hey, Linda. *Long time no see. How's everything?
👩🦱 Linda: Not too bad. Oh, by the way how's your new flat?
👩🦰 Sandra: It's ok. But I wish my neighbourhood was livelier.
It can get pretty quiet on Saturday evenings.
👩🦱 Linda: Oh? I wish mine was a little quieter. It gets really noisy on weekends.
👩🦰 Sandra: Haha...**Don't get me wrong . I like the area. It's convenient to get around. I just wish there were more cafes or restaurants.
👩🦱 Linda: I know what you mean. Mine is also a popular area with tourists. It gets really busy on weekends. I wish our building was located about 2 streets away.
👩🦰 Sandra: But you can just walk to the restaurants for dinner and drinks at the nearby pubs. It takes us 20 minutes by car to get to a nice eating place.
I wish it was nearer.
👩🦱 Linda: Yeah, you're right. But Tim and I prefer spending quiet evenings at home. So, we wish we could live somewhere quieter.
👩🦰 Sandra: (laughs)
John and I wish we had bought ours somewhere livelier...
🎯 Vocabulary Check!
(Idioms)
*Long time no see. = We say this when we haven't seen the person for a long time.
**Don't get me wrong. = We say this when we think the person might *misunderstand what we're saying.
📣 Time for your practice.
A. What do you wish was different about your life?
-your house
-your work
-your skills
B. Think about 5 things you wish you could change.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
✏️ Comment your answers below👇!
📩 Want more practice?
👉 Free Download [Wish + Verb tenses: Worksheet + Answer Key]
💡 FAQ: Mastering "Wish" Sentences
1. Present Wishes (Current Situations)
When you are unhappy with a situation happening now or a general fact.
Form: [Subject + wish + Past Simple]
Common Question:
"How do I talk about something I want to change right now?"
Examples:
"I wish I had more free time." (Reality: I am busy.)
"She wishes she lived closer to the beach." (Reality: She lives far away.)
Note:
For the verb "to be," we often use were for all subjects
(e.g., "I wish I were taller").
2. Past Wishes (Regrets)
When you are looking back at the past and wishing it had gone differently.
Form: [Subject + wish + Past Perfect (had + verb)]
Common Question:
"How do I express a regret about something that already happened?"
Examples:
"I wish I had studied harder for that exam."
(Reality: I didn't study enough.)
"They wish they hadn’t sold their old car."
(Reality: They sold it and regret it.)
3. Future Wishes (Hopes & Complaints)
When you want someone else's behaviour to change, or you want something to happen in the future.
Form: [Subject + wish + would/could + base verb]
Common Question:
"How do I complain about an annoying habit or wish for a future change?"
Examples:
Complaint: "I wish you would stop whistling!"
(It’s annoying me now / into the future.)
Hope: "I wish it would rain tomorrow." (I want the weather to change.)
Ability: "I wish I could go to the party next week."
🚀 Quick Summary Table
Wish Type | Time Reference | Verb Tense to Use | Example |
Present | Now | Past Simple | I wish I knew the answer. |
Past | Before | Past Perfect | I wish I had gone home early. |
Future | Later | Would / Could | I wish it would stop snowing. |
Pro Tip:
We never use "would" for ourselves when expressing a wish about a habit (e.g. Avoid saying "I wish I would..."). Instead, use "could" or the Past Simple.
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