Present Wishes
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| I wish that I had a sports car. | (The truth is I don’t have a sports car.) |
| I wish that I were a doctor. | (I’m really not a doctor.) |
For present wishes, the past tense is used in the that clause, because it indicates a situation that is only imagined. Sometimes the word that is omitted.
| She wishes (that) she had a diamond ring. | |
| He wishes (that) he were rich. |
To express possibility (can) and future intention (will), use the modals could and would respectively.
| She wishes that she could sing. | |
| They wish that she would stop. |
When a “be” verb is required, the word were is used, regardless of the subject.
| We wish you were here. | |
| I wish (that) I were taller. |
Textbook Recommendation:
Touchy Situations, Chapter 19
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