Hadn't/didn't

Question

Here are two sentences1) Now I wish I didn't go to the opera.2) Now I wish I hadn't gone to the opera.I know the second one is right but I don't know why. Could someone help me so I can understand the rule? thanks.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Welcome to the Forums!

The subjunctive mood follows the verb "wish". Subjunctive is rather rare in English, and has been decreasing, but it is still used in a few cases like this one. Here are some examples in present tense:

I wish he were here with me.
I wish I had a million dollars.
And here is a LINK if you want to read more about it.

Speakyword · Answer

thanks so much! I'm still not 100% sure I understand what the subjunctive mood is although from the examples I am getting a feel for it.

Yankee · Answer

Hi Speakyword

To talk about a past event in a way that is contrary to fact, you use the same form as the past perfect in a "wish" sentence or an "if" sentence. (It is subjunctive, but it looks like the past perfect.)

For example, imagine that this (1) is factual:

1. I went to the opera.

In a "wish" sentence, you can talk about that past event in a way that is counter-factual like this:

2. I wish I hadn't gone to the opera.

You would use the same form (same as the past perfect) in the IF-clause of a so-called Type 3 conditional sentence. Imagine that you went to the opera last week, and while you were there, you had an accident and broke your leg. To talk about that counter-factually in an IF-sentence, you can say this:

3. If I hadn't gone to the opera, I would not have broken my leg.

Speakyword · Answer

That was very helpfull. So was this website http://www.ceafinney.com/subjunctive/guide.html

Hadn't/didn't

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