I wish you washed / would wash up from time to time.

Question

It really annoys me that you never do anything around the house. I wish you ……. from time to time .
a)wash up
b)washed up
c)would wash up (Answer Key)
d)had washed up

Source: school exam

Hello,
Can option B (washed up) work in the test above or not?

Thank you

(I asked this question in WR forum but I received different answers. Tht's why I'm asking this in this forum to see what you think about this question. Some said "Yes, both B and C can work." and some other said "No, only C works")
This is the link: http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=2935547

Thank you

GPY · Accepted Answer

For me, (c) is the most obvious answer. (b) feels less likely, but if I heard it in conversation I wouldn't notice it as an error.

By the way, this is incorrect spacing:

a)wash up

This is correct spacing:

a) wash up

CalifJim · Answer

sb70012c)would wash up (Answer Key)

Yes. This is the one I would have chosen.

sb70012Can option B (washed up) work in the test above or not?

I know that people use that form instead of the form with 'would', but it doesn't strike me as correct. I don't believe it should be chosen in the setting of an exam.

I would advise that you not use it in your own work but that you accept it if you hear someone else say it, as it is not a very serious mistake (in my opinion).

CJ

Cool Breeze · Answer

I agree with GPY that c) is the best answer. I wouldn't accept b). I read the answers you were given on the other forum. Someone said that the use of would suggests an implication that a change in behaviour is desired. I agree that it seems the correct interpretation in sentences like this: I wish they'd turn down that music.

But how can the weather change its behaviour: I wish it wouldn't rain tomorrow. Besides, what change is required if it isn't raining even now? I look at this differently and my view is based on my high school English grammar book.

c) is required because the desired washing up will or will not happen in the future, not at this very moment. The past subjunctive is fine if the desired state or action should occur or be true at the very moment the sentence is uttered. The phrase from time to time indicates repeated action in the future, not at the moment of speaking. These are examples of the past subjunctive in I wish / If only sentences:

I wish / If only I were older!
I wish / If only he had a million euros!
I wish / If only the weather were less windy!
I wish / If only I didn't know him!

However, English grammar is very illogical sometimes and replete with all manner of expressions and usages that have been used for ages and have become idiomatic because of that. If what I said above were always true, we should say: I wish he would have a million euros next week. I bet most people say I wish he had a million euros next week instead.

I'm sorry that I can't give you an all-encompassing reply that would be applicable in every situation. Perhaps someone else will come up with one. I do think that it's more likely that there isn't one, though.

CB

Fivejedjon · Answer

sb70012 I asked this question in WR forum but I received different answers.

As you have seen, you have received slightly different answers here. This is one of those situations where there is no absolutely correct answer.

I wish you washed / would wash up from time to time.

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