The verb in the clause after wish is expressed in an earlier time then the situation that led to the wish.
Present: I don't have much energy
Past: I wish I had mor energy.
Present: He can't come for the meeting
Past: I wish he could come for the meeting.
Past: I got to work late this morning
Past
Perfect: I wish I had left the house earlier.
Present
Perfect: I haven't seen that movie.
Past
Perfect: I wish I had seen it.
A.
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb.
I gets dark early in the winter time.
I wish it didn't.
It got dark early in the winter.
I wish it hadn't.
1. We don't have enough time to finish.
I wish we _________________________ .
2. They cannot speak English well.
I wish they _______________________ .
3. It hasn't rained for a month.
The farmers wish it _______________ .
4. We didnt have anything to eat at noon today.
We wish we ________________________ .
5. I don't go to meetings often.
I wish I __________________________ .
6. The fell asleep during the speech.
They wish they ____________________ .
Language in transition:
When the verb in the situation decribed is "be", the verb in the noun clause is were for all persons and numbers: "Janet is mean. I wish she were not so mean."
However, it is aceptable in informal contexts to ignore this rule: "Janet is mean. I wish she wasn't.
Notes:
Wish has a different meaning when it is used in some common special expressions such as "wish someone a happy birthday", "wish someone good luck", "wish someone a safe trip".
John wrote to wish her a happy birthday.
I wish you good luck with your future studies.
They wished us a safe trip.
