This week’s column topic is If you could magically make just one wish come true, what would it be?, so for anyone studying English, here are some tips for making wishes!

Use I wish + (past simple or past continuous clause) to express a wish for the present. That thing is not true, but you wish it *was/were (or it is true but you wish it *wasn’t/weren’t).

Ex. I wish I had more free time. (Situation: I don’t have enough free time.)

Ex. I wish it was sunny. (Situation: It’s not sunny.)

Ex. I wish I didn’t have so much work to do today. (Situation: I have a lot of work to do today.)

Ex. I wish it wasn’t raining. (Situation: It’s raining.)

*Note: “Were” can follow a singular subject in formal wishes, but “was” is much more common in informal spoken sentences.

Use I wishI could + (base form verb) to express a wish about ability. You cannot do that thing now, but you wish you could.

Ex. I wish I could speak Italian. (Situation: I can’t speak Italian.)

Ex. I wish I could play guitar. (Situation: I can’t play guitar.)

Use I wish + (past perfect clause) to express a wish for the past.

Ex. I wish you had been there! (Situation: You weren’t there.)

Ex. I wish I hadn’t spent so much money last weekend. (Situation: I spent too much money last weekend.)

Notice that wishes for the present (which use past simple) resemble 2nd conditional (present unreal) sentences and wishes for the past (which use past perfect) resemble 3rd conditional (past unreal) sentences. They express the same type of unreal or impossible ideas. 

Ex. I wish I had more money. If I had more money, I would travel more. (present wish + 2nd conditional)

Ex. I wish I hadn’t slept in. If I hadn’t slept in, I wouldn’t have been late for class. (past wish + 3rd conditional)

Remember also that we wish for things that are impossible but hope for things that are possible (but unknown). 

Ex. I wish I could travel right now. (it’s impossible)

Ex. I hope I can travel next year! (it might be possible)

I hope this will help you to make wishes in English!

Zach