2.3.- Wishes and regrets.

How can you express a wish?

The verb “to wish” is normally used as a synonym of “to want” or would like + infinitive when we want to refer to present or future situations.

• I would like to establish a firm business relationship with your company.
• I wish to establish a firm business relationship with your company.

But the verb “to wish” is also used in other structures to express wishes and regrets. Let’s see those structures or expressions.

• I wish + past simple.
  • We regret about a present situation because we want something to be different in the present or in the future. It is normally translated into“Ojalá”.
    • I don’t have his telephone number. I wish I had it.
  • We can also use “If only + past simple” to express the same.
    • If only they passed their exams.
  • Other examples are:
    • She earns very little money. If only she earned more money.
    • I miss you so much. I wish you were here.
    • I cannot type. If only I could type.
    • Note that we use “were” instead of “was” for all subjects.
    • I wish she were here today.
• I wish + past perfect.
  • We regret something happened or didn’t happen in the past.
    • I didn’t go to the concert last weekend. I wish I had gone.
    • She lied to her parents about an exam. She wishes she hadn’t lied to her parents.
    • You feel ill because you ate so much cake. If only you hadn’t eaten so much cake.
• I wish + would + infinitive.
  • We want to express dissatisfaction or complaint about a present situation. We want somebody (not) to do something. We complain about someone else, so there are always two different subjects (I wish you/they/she/he would …..).
    • I wish my neighbour wouldn’t make so much noise.
    • I wish the bus driver would drive more slowly.