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Angliholic Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

I wished to help/to have helped you,

I wished to help/to have helped you, but I was busy then.

Which should I use to fit in the above, to help or to have helped? Thanks.
  

Top answer

I wished to help ... = I had the thought, at that time in the past, that I was going to help you, because I wanted to help you. ) I wished to have helped ...

— CalifJim

  • I wished to help ...
  • = I had the thought, at that time in the past, that I was going to help you, because I wanted to help you.
  • ) I wished to have helped ...
  • = I had the thought that, by that time in the past, I would already have helped you, because I wanted to (and expected to) have already finished helping you by that time.
  • I don't know if that helps, but I tried to show the difference.
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3 Answers
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I wished to help ...
= I had the thought, at that time in the past, that I was going to help you, because I wanted to help you. (No expectation about when the help would be finished.)

I wished to have helped ...
= I had the thought that, by that time in the past, I would already have helped you, because I wanted to (and expected to) have already finished helping you by
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I might have used "I wish I had helped you," or "I wish I could have helped you." Do those change the meaning too much CJ? They sound less awkward to me.
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CalifJimI wished to help ...
= I had the thought, at that time in the past, that I was going to help you, because I wanted to help you. (No expectation about when the help would be finished.)

I wished to have helped ...
= I had the thought that, by that time in the past, I would already have helped you, because I wanted to (and expected to) have already
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