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Jack112 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

I wish

Hi,

How do I use 'I wish'?

I know this is incorrect:
1. I wish I have a car. (You can't use the present tense 'have' because it's not going to happen.)

This is correct:
2. I wish I had a car.

Scenario:
I was filming last week and I missed some recording because I arrived late.

3. I wish I had started the recording earlier. (Is this correct?)
4. I wish I recorded earlier. (Is this incorrect? does this refer to now and not last week?)

Thanks for your help.
  

Top answer

3. I wish I had started the recording earlier. -- Yes.

— Mister Micawber

  • 3.
  • I wish I had started the recording earlier.
  • -- Yes.
  • ) 4.
  • I wish I recorded earlier .
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2 Answers
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3. I wish I had started the recording earlier. (Is this correct?-- Yes.)
4. I wish I recorded earlier. (Is this incorrect?-- Yes; you cannot use the word 'earlier' here, since it is incongruous with the present time meaning of 'recorded'.)
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jack112Hi,How do I use 'I wish'?I know this is incorrect:1. I wish I have a car.
This is one of the subjunctive mood patterns. The subjunctive mood is a category of verb forms which are used to express conditions or things that are not facts: wishes, possibilities, doubts, suggestions, conditions, etc.
Examples:
I w
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