WISH + PAST SIMPLE (Present Unreal Wishes) (B1 Grammar)

Use WISH + PAST SIMPLE to express wishes about PRESENT situations that are NOT TRUE or IMPOSSIBLE to change right now. You want reality to be different. Structure: I wish + subject + PAST SIMPLE. Use WERE (not was) for all persons with 'be'.

Quick tip: WISH + PAST SIMPLE = present unreal wish. Use WERE for all persons with 'be'. You want the present to be different, but it's not!

Form: WISH + subject + past simple

Use past simple (past tense) after WISH to talk about PRESENT situations you want to be different. With BE, use WERE for all persons (I/he/she/it/we/you/they).

• I wish I WERE rich. (reality: I'm not rich - I want to be rich)
• She wishes she HAD a car. (reality: she doesn't have a car)
• I wish I LIVED in Paris. (reality: I don't live in Paris)
• He wishes he COULD speak French. (reality: he can't speak French)

Use: PRESENT situations you want to CHANGE

Express dissatisfaction with the PRESENT. You want reality to be different NOW, but it's not possible or it's just a dream.

• I wish I were taller. (I'm short - I want to be taller, but I can't change it)
• She wishes she had more free time. (she's busy - wants more time)
• I wish I knew the answer. (I don't know - I want to know)
• They wish they lived closer. (they live far away - want to be closer)

WERE for ALL persons (formal English)

With BE verb in wishes, use WERE for all persons (I/he/she/it/we/you/they), especially in formal or written English. 'Was' is also used in informal speech.

• I wish I WERE you. (✓ formal - use WERE for 'I')
• He wishes he WERE taller. (✓ formal - use WERE for 'he')
• She wishes she WERE more confident. (✓ use WERE)
• I wish I WAS rich. (informal - acceptable in speech but WERE is better)

Common mistakes

• Not "I wish I am rich." — say "I wish I were rich.". After WISH, use PAST SIMPLE (were), not present (am). Past tense = unreal/imaginary..
• Not "I wish I was you." — say "I wish I were you.". Use WERE (not was) for all persons in wishes, especially in formal English..
• Not "I wish I will have more time." — say "I wish I had more time.". Don't use WILL after wish for present situations. Use past simple (had)..

Practise it

Think: What's TRUE now that you want to be DIFFERENT? Use WISH + past simple. Reality opposite of wish: I'm poor → I wish I were rich!