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    Wishes and Related Forms

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    natiqx.17

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    Wishes and Related Forms

    Uploaded by

    natiqx.17
    5 views4 pages

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    Wishes and related forms

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    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    5 views4 pages

    Wishes and Related Forms

    Uploaded by

    natiqx.17

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 4

    Wishes and related

    forms
    Wishes about the
    present
    For wishes about the present Wishes about the future
    we use I wish + the past simple.
    The time referred to is an
    We can use I wish + could to Wishes using would
    refer to a future event.
    imaginary present.
    I wish she could meet me next When we want to complain about
    I wish I knew the answer to this
    week. a bad habit we use I wish + would
    question. (I do not know the
    We also use I wish + could to I wish he wouldn't chew gum all the
    answer)
    refer to something that is time.
    generally difficult or impossible. We also use I wish + would to
    Wishes about the past
    I wish I could drive. refer to something that we would
    We can also use I wish + didn't like to happen.
    have to to refer to a future I wish people wouldn't use their
    For wishes about the past we
    event. mobiles on the train.
    use I wish + the past perfect.
    I wish I didn't have to get up early
    The time referred to is past
    tomorrow
    time.
    I wish I had gone to your party
    last week. (I did not go)
    If only
    We can replace I wish with If only for emphasis.
    If only I had gone to your party last week!
    In speech, only is often heavily stressed.

    RELATED It's time

    FORMS
    The construction it's time I / you/ we ... is followed by
    a past tense.
    Sorry, but it's time we went home.
    The meaning here is similar to a second conditional.
    If we went home, it would be better.
    High can be added for extra emphasis.
    It's high time you learnt to look after yourself!
    It's time can also be used with the infinitive. The
    meaning changes slightly.
    It's time you started work! (You are being lazy and not
    working.)
    It's time to start work. (a simple statement of fact)
    I'd rather
    The construction I’d rather I / you / we ... is followed
    by a past tense.
    I’d rather you didn't tell him about this.
    The meaning here is similar to a second conditional.
    If you didn't tell him about this, it would be better.

    Suppose and imagine


    RELATED In informal speech we can use suppose or imagine in
    place of if. The construction is a normal second

    FORMS
    conditional.
    Imagine you were rich. How would you feel?

    Hope and wish


    I hope ... can be used in a similar way to I wish ... But I
    hope is used only for wishes that are actually possible,
    and it is usually used with a present or future verb
    form. Wish cannot be used in this way.
    I hope you have a good time.
    But I wish with the infinitive has a different meaning. It
    is a formal way of saying l'd like to (or I want to).
    I wish to interview you for the job next week.

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