Unreal Tenses
Unreal Tenses
Unreal Tenses
Wishes
1 Present These are wishes where you want to change a present state. I wish I had a motorbike. (I don't have one now.) I wish you weren't leaving. (You are leaving.) I wish I was going on holiday with you. (I am not going.) 2 Would and could If the verb is an event verb, the reference is to the future. We use would or could after wish. Would here means 'decided to'. I wish you would leave. I wish I could come on holiday with you next year. The use with would is often used to describe an annoying habit. I wish you wouldn't make such a mess. 3 Past These are wishes referring to a past event, which cannot be changed. I wish I hadn't eaten so much. 4 Hope Wishes about simple future events are expressed with hope. I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow. I hope he'll stop talking soon!