In English, sentences with the I wish construction cause difficulties. The rules will help you understand the features of the use of this phrase.

Starting to study this construction, you need to know the types. Review them before you get acquainted with this expression.

The literary translation of I wish from English into Russian is "I'm sorry." However, when we say I wish, it literally translates as "I wish." For example, I wish my Mom were here - I wish my mother was here (It is a pity that my mother is not here).

Regret about events in the present

Let's say we want to say that we regret something we did in the present tense, and we want the result to be different.

To do this, there is the following rule: I wish + verb in Past Simple.

Remember that the verb to be will be used in the form were(even with a third party subject)! Learn this rule: I wish I were/she were/he were/it were.

Imagine the situation: today a student performs at a school concert. Any child will expect his parents to come and look at him. But suddenly it turns out that mom and dad could not take time off from work and come to see the concert. Coming home, you can express your regret:

• I wish you, Mom and Dad, were at the school concert today. - What a pity that you, mom and dad, were not at the school concert today. (I wish you were at the school concert today).

Note that the event has already happened, and the point in time - today - has not yet expired. And if the event happened yesterday, then the moment is gone, so another time will be used with the I wish construction. The rule in English for the past tense will learn further.

Note that the English sentence is affirmative and the Russian is negative. It is because of this difference that confusion arises: you begin to remember how to say in your native language, making a mistake in speech.

Regret about past events

What if we regret some past events? For this, in the second part, the verb in the Past Perfect tense is used, it is also called the past.

For clarity, we will use the same example, only slightly change it. Imagine that the school concert was on Friday, and at the weekend you have to go to your grandmother. After returning home and seeing your parents, express regret that two days ago they could not get to the concert:

• I wish you, Mom and Dad, had been at the school concert two days ago - What a pity that you, mom and dad, were not at the school concert two days ago.

You wish it were different, but this cannot be changed: the event was in the past.

Expressing dissatisfaction with I wish

But when expressing dissatisfaction, they use the expression "I wish smb would ...". Interestingly, this phrase can be reproached by everyone except yourself. That is, the expression "I wish I would" does not exist!

By saying this phrase, you show your annoyance with what is happening. Imagine that you are preparing for important exams, and your younger brother, for example, runs around the house and makes noise. Tell him:

• I wish you would be quiet! I have an important exam tomorrow! - Could you be quieter? I have an important exam tomorrow! (I wish you were quieter.)

Expressing helplessness with the phrase I wish

Just imagine: you were sick for a week, but you need to find out your homework. They called a neighbor on the desk, but it turns out that he forgot to write it down and cannot help in any way. In this case, it is appropriate to express your regret as follows:

• I wish you could know our homework assignment. - It's a pity that you don't know what we were asked (I want you to know our homework).

Usage rule: I wish + could + infinitive. Note that the to particle is omitted.

If only: regret about events in the present

To express regret, we can replace the phrase I wish - If only with another expression. The rules will be slightly different. Let's try to understand the difference in usage.

If only is used to emphasize the unreality of desire. When you want to change something, but it's impossible:

• If only I weren "t so frustrated. - If I were not so depressed now. (I regret that I am depressed right now, in the present).
• If only it weren "t snowing. - If it wasn't snowing now. (It's on now, but I don't want it).
• If only she weren "t so rude with him. - If only she hadn't been so rude to him. (She's being rude to him now, but I don't want it to be like that).
• If only I had this phone. - If only I had this phone. (I need it at this moment).

This phrase expresses a stronger emotion than the phrase I wish. It shows hopelessness, the inability to change anything.

The grammar in the sentence will be the same as in the sentence I wish: If only + Past Simple (verb in the second form).

Note, however, that an affirmative sentence in Russian will also be affirmative in English, unlike a sentence beginning with I wish. Negative will be negative.

If only: regretting the past

When we want to show our regret from events that happened in the past, we use the Past Perfect tense (had + verb in the third form):

• If only I hadn "t chattered like a magpie (stable expression; it matters - to crack like a magpie)! - Oh, if I didn’t chat like a magpie then! (I regret that I chatted then, but now this cannot be changed )
• If only I had a bicycle. - Oh, if only I had a bicycle then! (I needed him for a long time, not now)
• If only my grandmother had won that musical contest! - Oh, if my grandmother had not won this music competition then! (I regret that she won then)
• If only she had read this article! - Oh, if only she had read this article then! (Then it would be good for her, but now everything would be different)

Summarize:

To express regret about something at this time, we use the simple past tense: If only + Past Simple (the verb in the second form on the plate of irregular verbs).

To express regret about something that happened in the past, you need to use the past complete tense: If only + Past Perfect (had + verb in the third form in the same plate).

Replacing If only with I wish

It is allowed to replace the phrase If only with I wish. The semantic load of the sentence will not change from this. See for yourself:

• I wish I weren "t so frustrated. - If I weren't so depressed now.
• I wish it weren "t snowing. - If it wasn't snowing now.

• I wish she weren "t so rude with him. - If only she hadn't been so rude to him.
• I wish I had this phone. - If only I had this phone.

And in past tense:

• I wish I hadn "t chattered like a magpie (stable expression; it matters - to crack like a magpie)! - Oh, if I hadn't chatted like a magpie then!
• I wish I had had a bicycle. - Oh, if only I had a bicycle!
• I wish my grandmother had won that musical contest! - Oh, if my grandmother had not won this music competition then!
• I wish she had read this article! - Oh, if only she had read this article then!

We see that the structure of the sentence almost does not change. The phrase If only is replaced by the phrase I wish, and the rest of the sentence remains unchanged.

Examples of If only / I wish with translation: present

Let's try to trace the use of I wish / If only in the present tense using examples:

• I wish I visited the exhibition, you had told me about today. - What a pity that today I did not visit the exhibition about which you told me.
• I wish she didn't forget about today's meeting. - What a pity that she forgot about today's meeting.
• I wish our teacher didn't fall ill and came. - How sorry I am that our teacher got sick today and didn't come.
• I wish my sister's cat didn't disappear. She's so worried. - What a pity that my sister's cat disappeared today. She is very worried.
• If only it didn't rain cats and dogs. - Oh, if only there wasn't such a downpour today (rain cats and dogs - it matters - a heavy downpour, pour like a bucket)
• If only my mother didn't forbid me from going to the cinema. - Oh, if only my mother had not forbidden me to go to the cinema today.
• If only I knew the answer to the question. - Oh, if I knew the answer to this question!
• If only I could repair cars! - Oh, if only I could fix cars!

I wish/If only examples with translation: past tense

Now look at examples of the use of these phrases in the past tense:

• I wish we had met in the cafe then. - I'm sorry we didn't meet at the cafe then.
• I wish she had understood what I had meant. “I'm sorry she didn't understand then what I meant.
• I wish her brother had won those contest. “I'm sorry her brother didn't win that competition.
• I wish she had rallied her thoughts and got a good mark at the exam. I'm sorry that she couldn't concentrate on the exam and get a good mark.
• If only I had learned this rule. If only I had learned that rule then.
• If only we had kept an eye for him. If only we hadn't taken our eyes off him then.
• If only we had ticked him off the list. - If only we crossed him off the list.
• If only I hadn "t cheated so obviously at the exam. - If only I hadn't cheated so openly on the exam then.
• If only I hadn "t got "2" in Maths. - If only I didn't get a deuce in math.
• If only he hadn "t taken my favorite shirt to the dry cleaners. - If only he hadn't taken my favorite shirt to this dry cleaner.

Are you having difficulty remembering the I wish construction? The rules for using this expression are easy to remember if you write several sentences every day. Even if the suggestions are simple, don't be discouraged! The main thing is to fix the grammatical structure in your head.

Say out loud the sentences you have written down. Soon you will be able to invent them yourself without writing them first. And do the exercises: the more you write, the faster and better you remember.

Conditional sentences in English.

Conditional sentences in English are closely related to the use of the subjunctive.

There are three types of conditional sentences in English:

Type 1 - denotes real, feasible conditions that may refer to the past, present or future.

In this type of sentence, the verb is used in the future tense in the main clause(consequences) and in the present tense in a subordinate clause(terms). Both verbs are translated by the indicative mood:

If the weather is fine, we shall go outside.
If the weather will be good, we let's go to outside.

Is you ring me up, I shall tell you something.
If ayouto mecall , Iyousomething— whatI will tell .

Type 2- denotes unrealistic, impracticable conditions related to the present or future.

In this type of sentences, the auxiliary verb should / would and the infinitive of the verb without the particle to are used. in the main sentence and the past form of the verb to be in the subjunctive mood (were in all persons) or the Past Simple form of all other verbs in a subordinate clause (conditions)

If the weather were fine, we should go outside.
If the weather was good (today Tomorrow) we would go outside.

Is you rank me up, I should tell you something.
If you called me (today Tomorrow) I would like to tell you something.

Type 3 - stands for unfulfilled conditions in the past.

In this type of sentences, the auxiliary verb should / would and the tense verb Present Perfect are used. in the main sentence and the past perfect verb in a subordinate clause (terms). Both verbs are translated by the subjunctive mood:

If the weather had been fine, we should have gone outside. If the weather had been good (yesterday), we would have gone outside.

If you had rung me up, I should have told you something. If you called me (yesterday), I would tell you something.

Attention:

1. If the subordinate clause comes before the main one, they are separated by a comma.

2. The subordinate clause does not use verbs will, would or should (there are exceptions).

3. After if you can use the form were instead of was for all persons.

If I was / were you, I would help her.

4. Recent years shape shall obsolete, increasingly used form will for all persons.

I shall / will go there, if he invites me.

5. There are mixed types of conditional sentences.

if nobody phoned him (in past), he won't come to the meeting (in present).

Subjunctive after I wish (= if only)

The form I wish used in the following cases:

1.Regret in the present, which we want to change (using the Past Simple tense):

I wish I was / were more patient.If only I were more patient (I'm impatient)

2. Regret or desire in the present associated with the inability to change something in the future (the form could is used):

I wish I could ride a bicycle.If only I could ride a bike. (But i can not)

3. Wish for the future, which is unlikely to come true or the desire to express dissatisfaction in the situation (the form would is used):

I wish he would study for his exam.(If he had prepared for the exam. (But he will not prepare).

4. Polite request, emphasizing disappointment or lack of hope for a change in the situation.

I wish you would be quiet.Ah, if you would calm down (but you lie if you do it)

5. Regret for the past(Past perfect):

I wish I had gone to Mike's birthday yesterday.If I went to Mike's birthday yesterday (Sorry, I didn't).

Attention:

1. In the designs I wish we "retreat" one time ago. That is, we use Past Simple in the present and Past Perfect in the past.

2. After if you can use the form were instead of was for all persons.

3. Shape if only can be used equally with I wish, but this form has a more emotional coloring.

As we already know, there are many special situations and exceptions in English grammar. And our topic today is just a separate case. It would seem that conditional sentences in English speech have so many variants of construction that it is impossible to imagine at least one more. But it is, and is a special kind of sentences that have the subjunctive mood and their own construction rules. So, today we will try to figure out how sentences with I wish are composed, what such expressions mean and in what cases they are used.

Why do I need the I wish construction?

Using expressions of the subjunctive mood in speech, the speaker seeks to talk about his desire or assumption regarding any action. For example, I would like to be free now (but I can't). These are practically the same sentences with the I wish construction, however, they have their own special semantic context.

The expression I wish in its main meaning is similar to phrases like Iwantto, Iwouldliketo, which translates as " I want, I want, I would like". But, combinations with wish are used mainly when these wishes are not real, cannot be fulfilled for various reasons. So, the English example " IwishIwerefreenow", Russian translation " I'm sorry I'm not free now n" or " I would like to be free now(but everyone understands that this is not feasible).

In other words, sentences with I wish are an expression of any desires, almost dreams, with an emphasis on regret that they are most likely not feasible now / in the future, or were not fulfilled some time ago. Russian equivalents - sorry it's not; I wish... but alas.

Grammatically, sentences with the conditional phrase I wish in English are considered conditional, and contain 2 parts: the main and the subordinate clause, which contain the whole meaning of the statement. In the first part in place I any personal pronoun can be used you, we, she etc. Such expressions are used in different tense forms, the system of which will be discussed in the next section.

Offers with I wish in different tenses

With I wish in English, we can express regret both about past events and if they are happening at the moment or happening in the future. Accordingly, the English grammar contains 2 variants of their construction:

• If we regret something that is happening now or will happen in the near future, then we put the verb after wish in, sometimes in Past Continuous.
• If we are talking about an action that happened in the distant past, the predicate of the subordinate clause is in the Past Perfect.

Consider examples of the use of such phrases in various situations.

verb tense	Meaning	Example	Translation
past simple	Regret about unfulfilled actions, events that did not occur in the present (rarely in the future) time.	I wish you studied the English language.	I'm sorry that you don't teach English language. / I wish you learned English (but you don't learn).
		I wish I knew the answer.	I would like to know answer (but don't know). / I wish I don't know answer to this.
Past continuous	Regret about events that are happening right now or constantly, periodically (in a negative sense). Rarely used in the future tense.	I wish she weren't always telling me about her problems.	I would like her didn't tell to me constantly about their problems (and she talks). / It's a pity that she constantly tells me about my problems.
		I wish it were snowing now.	It's a pity that not going now snow. / I would like to now fell snow (but it does not fall).
past perfect	Regret for long-committed actions, past events. Regret that it turned out that way, and not otherwise.	I wished I had known before.	I regretted, what am I did not know this before. / I was sorry, I I would like to know this before (but did not know).
		She wishes she had worked on that day.	I would like she is work that day (but she didn't work)./ To her it's a pity that she did not work that day.

Grammar notes: verb to be in subordinate clauses with wish always has the form were, regardless of which person it is I, we, you, he, etc.): Iwishmymother were here. This rule applies to the sentences wish past simple and wish past continuous.

The second important point relates to the translation of constructions into Russian. If in the sentence the predicate of the subordinate clause is in a negative form, then with the turnover “ it's a pity, …» we translate it in the affirmative form : Iwishyou didn't 't spend somuchmoneyoncosmetics (I wish you spend so much money for cosmetics).

The rule is also true in reverse: Iwish I had 5 dollars (It's a pity that I have no five dollars). Turnovers « I would like…" and " I would like to…» do not require a change in the form of the predicate : IwishI spoke English(I would like to speak in English (but I don't speak).

Wish constructions with modal verbs

In phrases like " wish+mod.ch.+predicate”, the modal verb is always in the past tense form. In this case, the predicate can be used in the form of an infinitive or verb forms of the Past tense group.

Design	Meaning	Example	Translation
Iwishcould+ verb in the beginning form	Wishing for something to happen in the future, but unlikely to happen.	He wishes he couldfix his bike.	He I would like to be able to fix his bicycle (but he is unlikely to be able to). / He is sorry that he can't fix your bike.
		How I wish I could play the guitar!	How would I wanted to be able to play on the guitar (but I can't)! / That's a pity that I I can't play On guitar!
Iwishcould+ have+ Ch. past tense form	Regret about the opportunity lost in the past to do something, do something, change something.	We wish we could have helped her.	We could help her (but did not have the opportunity). / We're sorry that we failed her help(it was not possible).
		I wish I could have been at the concert.	I'm sorry that I couldn't visit at this concert (did not have the opportunity). / I wish that I was able to visit this concert, but it was not possible.
I wish +infinitive	Negative attitude to any actions, events; desire to change them in the future. NOT regret but discontent, rejection, irritability.	I wish you would stop writing to me!	When did you stop writing to me! / you can say: I'm sorry that you don't stop writing to me.
		I wish it would stop snowing.	When will end snow. / It's a pity that it snows does not end .

So, we have completed the topic of conditional sentences with the construction " Iwish". Please note that these rules only apply to conditional sentences and the subjunctive, because the use of wish also possible in sentences of other mood types. In such cases wish is used in its direct meaning, and sentences are composed according to the usual rules of their mood.

It should also be noted that the design Iwish often used in business English as a substitute for the expression Iwant because it gives the speech a more formal and stern tone. However, it will not be difficult to distinguish such constructions, since the grammatical composition of the sentence will be completely different.

The grammatical constructions of such a category of the verb as the subjunctive mood quite often differ in some complexity and difference from the Russian language. For example, conditional sentences familiar to many have non-standard tense forms within their parts. Two more popular structures from this topic are formed according to a similar principle: the I wish construction and the if only phrase. They both have special translation rules from English to Russian, as well as several use cases that differ from each other in time frames. So, all these situations deserve closer attention.

The literal translation into Russian, which has the phrase I wish in English - "I would like to." However, this structure is not always translated in such a similar way, and a significant role here is played by the situation that is described, or, to be more precise, the time frame in which the action takes place.

So, in sentences with I wish in English, a situation related to the past tense, present or future can be transmitted, that is, theoretically, all dimensions can be affected. The grammatical structure of such a construction and the temporary forms used in it play an important role here. Depending on the tense of these or those sentences with I wish, the formation rule will be different.

I wish in past tense sentences

It is necessary to start with the fact that in phrases with I wish, the grammar does not provide for the use of any of the present tenses of the present due to the fact that these constructions refer to Subjunctive Mood, that is, something unlikely, unreal. In the event that about desires related to the past tense, two nuances must be taken into account:

1) the time after the verb wish will be Past Perfect, not the simple past. As in most other situations in the subjunctive mood, this tense form shows a connection with the past;

2) the structure is very often translated not “I would like”, but “what a pity, I'm sorry”, that is, with an emphasis on regret about something that could have happened, but for one reason or another did not happen.

Note: it is worth noting that in the situation with I wish, the translation rule does not affect the structure of the construction itself. You can compare two Russian sentences with the construction I wish: "I wish you were there yesterday" and "What a pity that you were not there yesterday." Despite the fact that negation will appear in the second option, this is characteristic only for the Russian version of constructing sentences of this type, therefore there will be no particle not in the English sentence. The translation “what a pity” is a purely lexical, not a grammatical phenomenon.

Here are some examples of what such situations look like in the past tense:

· I wish I had called you yesterday - It's a pity that I didn't call you yesterday (i.e. I wish I called you, but I didn't call)

I wish I had caught yesterday’s train - What a pity that I didn’t get on yesterday’s train (I would really like to get on that train, but I didn’t get on it)

I wish in sentences with present tense

The use of I wish in present tense situations is also quite common. It also has its own special rules.

There is also no present tense here, and instead of it, the situation relating to the current moment is usually expressed through Past Indefinite.

Note: It is important to remember that the verb be in Subjunctive Mood does not have a past singular form. Simply put, instead of was with all persons and with any number, it is customary to use were - I wish I were, etc.

Such phrases will be translated in the same way as in the case of situations in the past. For example, for the phrase I wish I knew you, the translation that would look best is “sorry that I don’t know you”, that is, even despite the denial in the Russian version, not will not appear in the English sentence. Using similar constructions, the speaker wants some changes now, in the current situation. For example:

How I wish you were here! What a pity you are not here! (i.e., how I wish you were here now!)

I wish I could earn enough money - It's a pity that I don't earn enough money (I would like to earn more money)

I wish in future tense situations

It should be noted right away that for situations in the future, the translation “what a pity” is atypical, and the meaning “I would like to” looks much more logical. In addition, in order for the proposal to look harmonious in such a situation, it is necessary that three conditions coincide at once:

1. The situation should refer to the future tense (rarely - to the present).
2. The speaker and the object to which the action is directed are different persons (I wish I ... cannot be).
3. In such phrases, there is always either a hint of a request, or a clear hint of irritation, and sometimes both.

Only if all three conditions match will using would after wish (rather than will, since the situation is still associated with the subjunctive mood) be valid.

Here's what those situations might look like:

I wish you would stop talking in such a loud voice - I would like you to stop talking in such a loud voice

I wish Mrs. Smith would bake her pie once again - I would like Mrs. Smith to bake her pie again

As can be seen from the examples, such texts will not look harmoniously with the translation “what a pity”, and the original meaning “I would like to” looks more natural here.

The following small table will help to display all possible forms with wish:

The if only construct

The if only structure has roughly the same usage rules as I wish, with the only difference that the first structure looks more emotionally powerful. This construction does not have any special pronunciation, its transcription is also absolutely normal, but tenses will be non-standard in terms of ordinary grammar due to the fact that such phrases belong to the Subjunctive Mood category. In all cases, there is a “would” particle here: if only you will have the translation “if only you ...”, etc.

Here are some examples of situations with three time options with the if only construct:

· If only you had come to my birthday last Saturday - If only you came to my birthday last Saturday (but you didn't come)

If only she were here - If only she were here

If only John would visit me tomorrow - If only John would visit me tomorrow

All these features of the two constructions are quite typical for the rule of the subjunctive mood, but in order to use the correct forms, it is important to navigate the times and be able to distinguish between situations with different time frames.