English speakers use "wish" to show that they want a situation to be different. The verb after "wish" is one tense back, so that if you are wishing for a different present situation, the tense that follows "wish" is past simple or past continuous. If you are wishing that a past situation was different, the tense that comes after "wish" is past perfect. You can also use "wish" with modal verbs in English.
Grammar and Tenses
Wish and present situations
Situation: My sister is untidy. (Verb "to be" in the present simple) Wish:I wish she was tidier. (Verb "to be" in past simple)
Situation: I am going to London next week. (Verb "to go" in present continuous) Wish: "I wish I wasn't going to London next week." (Verb "to go" in past continuous)
Situation: I haven't studied for the English test. (Verb "to study" in present perfect)Wish: "I wish I had studied for the English test." (Verb "to study" in past perfect)
Grammar and Tenses
Wish and past situations
Situation: I didn't go on holiday this year. (Verb "to go" is in past simple)Wish: "I wish I had gone on holiday this year. (Verb "to go" is in past perfect.)
Grammar and Tenses
Wish with modal verbs
With could to refer to ability
Situation: I can't play a musical instrument. Wish: "I wish I could play a musical instrument."
With would to refer to habits and free will
Situation: He whistles in the office. Wish: I wish he wouldn't whistle in the office. (In this sentence you are stressing the fact he wants to whistle and makes a habit of it.)
Grammar and Tenses
You could also say: "I wish he didn't whistle in the office." (In this sentence you aren't stressing his desire to whistle, but you are just making a comment about a present situation.)
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