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Pructus Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

I wish you didn't do that.

Hi, everyone!

I wish you didn't do that........

I know that this sentence means that "I wish that you would not know", referring to the present time.

But I wonder if it also means that "I wish that you had not known", referring to the past time.

What is native speakers' sense of English in this part?
  

Top answer

pructus I wish you didn't do that.. I know that this sentence means that "I wish that you would not know " Do? Or know?

  • pructus I wish you didn't do that..
  • I know that this sentence means that "I wish that you would not know " Do?
  • Or know?
  • This seems confused.
  • know is a stative verb.
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5 Answers
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pructusI wish you didn't do that..
I know that this sentence means that "I wish that you would not know"
Do? Or know? This seems confused.

know is a stative verb. The forms with wish are:

I wish you didn't know that. (You do know that.) (present)

I wish you hadn't known that.
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Thanks a lot, CalifJim!!

I was thinking several sentences, and being in a hurry, I made some mistakes.

But your answer solved all the questions.

I still have some more questions on this part. For example, (A) "He spoke Chinese as if he were Chinese". Though "were" is used here but, I learned that it's considered correct.

Also, (B) "If it were not for his assist
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Thanks a lot, CalifJim!!

I was thinking several sentences, and being in a hurry, I made some mistakes.

But your answer solved all the questions.

I still have some more questions on this part. For example, (A) "He spoke Chinese as if he were Chinese". Though "were" is used here but, I learned that it's considered correct.

Also, (B) "If it were not for his assist
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if and as if do not work in exactly the same way, and the whole topic is a rat's nest of oddities and complexities.

Try this and see if it helps.

CJ
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Thanks....

I will take time to read it...

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