Wish describes the gap between reality and desire. "I wish I had more time" means I do not have more time. The past form had does not talk about the past; it marks the present situation as unreal.
The tense after wish shows which time you regret. Past simple regrets the present. Past perfect regrets the past. Would looks forward and complains about behaviour you want to change. If only does the same job with more emotion.
This page covers all three patterns, the difference between wish and hope, and the times when would is not allowed. The 20-question drill checks every form with a one-sentence rule.
The rule
Wish plus past simple: the present is not real
- A wish about now takes the past simple: "I wish I had more time."
- Were is standard for all subjects: "I wish I were taller."
- The past form does not mean past time; it marks an unreal present.
- Want states the desire directly, while wish says the reality is different.
Wish plus past perfect: regret about the past
- A wish about the past takes the past perfect: "I wish I had studied harder."
- The regret is fixed because the action cannot change.
- Negative regrets use had not: "I wish I had not said that."
- If only makes the same wish stronger: "If only I had listened."
Wish plus would: annoyance and future change
- Wish plus would complains about repeated behaviour: "I wish you would stop shouting."
- It also asks for a change in the future: "I wish it would stop raining."
- Use would when another person controls the action, not for your own.
- Never say "I wish I would" about yourself.
Wish plus could and wish plus noun
- Wish plus could describes a missing ability: "She wishes she could swim."
- Wish plus noun is a polite formula: "We wish you a happy birthday."
- In that pattern wish is not unreal; it simply gives good wishes.
- Hope is different: it expects something possible: "I hope you pass."
Hope, want and wish
- Hope plus the present or will describes a possible future: "I hope it does not rain."
- Wish plus past forms describes an impossible or unlikely situation.
- Want plus to and a verb states a plain desire: "I want to be taller."
- If only works everywhere wish does, with more emotional force.
Examples
- I wish I had more free time.The past form had marks an unreal present.
- She wishes she could play the violin.Could describes an ability she does not have.
- I wish I had taken that job.The past perfect regrets a past decision.
- If only we had left earlier.If only adds emotion to the same past regret.
- He wishes he had not lied.A negative past regret uses had not plus the participle.
- I wish you would listen to me.Would complains about behaviour the other person controls.
- I wish it would stop raining.Would asks for a future change in the weather.
- We wish you a happy new year.Wish plus noun is a polite good wish, not a regret.
- I hope you feel better soon.Hope expects a possible recovery.
- If only I were a little taller.Were is the standard unreal form for all subjects.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: I wish I have more money. Right: I wish I had more money.
- An unreal present after wish takes the past simple had.
- Wrong: I wish I would be taller. Right: I wish I were taller.
- Would is not used about the speaker's own state; the unreal present takes were.
- Wrong: I wish I did not say that yesterday. Right: I wish I had not said that yesterday.
- A regret about the past takes the past perfect.
- Wrong: I hope I were rich. Right: I wish I were rich.
- Hope expects something possible, so an unreal situation takes wish.
- Wrong: If only I can go with you. Right: If only I could go with you.
- A wish about ability uses could, not can.
Practice drill
Answer all 20 questions. Each answer is marked at once, and the rule is explained under the question.
I wish I ___ more time to practise.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. had Wish about the present takes the past simple, so had marks the unreal present.
She wishes she ___ taller.
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Answer: B. were Wish uses were as the unreal form for every subject.
I wish I ___ harder for the exam last month.
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Answer: C. had studied A past regret after wish takes the past perfect had studied.
He wishes he ___ the answer yesterday.
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Answer: D. had known The past perfect had known regrets an earlier moment in the past.
I wish it ___ raining; I want to go out.
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Answer: A. would stop Wish plus would asks for a future change in the weather.
She wishes she ___ speak French.
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Answer: B. could A missing ability after wish uses could, not can.
If only I ___ my keys! They are lost.
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Answer: C. had not lost If only with a past regret takes the past perfect had not lost.
I wish you ___ interrupting me when I am working.
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Answer: D. would stop Wish plus would complains about repeated behaviour, so would stop fits.
I wish I ___ a better phone, but I cannot afford one.
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Answer: A. had The unreal present after wish takes the past simple had.
We wish we ___ on holiday right now.
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Answer: B. were Wish about the present uses were for an unreal situation.
He wishes he ___ so rude to his teacher.
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Answer: C. had not been A regret about a past action takes the past perfect had not been.
If only she ___ the truth earlier.
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Answer: D. had told If only about the past takes the past perfect had told.
I wish it ___ Sunday today.
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Answer: A. were Wish about an unreal present uses were for every subject.
She wishes she ___ play the piano.
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Answer: B. could Wish about ability takes could, which marks the skill as unreal.
I wish they ___ that noise. It is giving me a headache.
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Answer: C. would stop Wish plus would complains about behaviour that should change.
Do you wish you ___ medicine instead of law?
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Answer: D. had studied Wish about an earlier choice takes the past perfect had studied.
I wish I ___ what to do.
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Answer: A. knew The unreal present after wish takes the past simple knew.
He wishes his family ___ closer.
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Answer: B. lived Wish about a present situation takes the past simple lived.
If only I ___ younger!
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Answer: C. were If only about the present uses the unreal form were.
I ___ you pass your exam tomorrow.
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Answer: D. hope Hope expects a possible future, while wish marks a situation as unreal.
Drill complete
You answered every question.
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Questions learners ask
What is the difference between wish and hope?
Hope expects something possible. "I hope you pass the exam" treats passing as likely enough to expect. Wish describes a gap between reality and desire: "I wish I could pass without studying" treats the situation as unreal. If the outcome is possible, use hope; if the situation is imaginary or regretted, use wish.
Why does wish use the past tense for the present?
English marks unreality with distance. Moving the tense one step back signals that the statement is not true: "I wish I knew" means I do not know. The past form is not about past time; it is about unreality. The past perfect does the same job one step further back for past regrets.
When can I use wish with would?
Use would when you want another person, a thing or a situation to change, especially when the behaviour repeats: "I wish you would stop interrupting." Use would for the future, and remember that you cannot wish something about yourself with would: "I wish I would stop" is wrong; say "I wish I could stop".
More grammar topics
Reporting verbs: say, tell, ask, advise and warn
A reporting verb decides the shape of the sentence: tell needs a person, say does not, and verbs like advise and warn take an object plus an infinitive.
The with geographic names: the UK, the USA, no article
Most single country names take no article. The takes over with plural names, group names and rivers, seas, oceans and mountain ranges.
Prepositions of movement: to, into, through and across
Movement prepositions answer the question "which way?". Into and out of are about entering and leaving, through and across are about crossing, and to is the destination.
Take the free A1 to C2 level test to find your starting point.