I wish.....would

Question

HelloWe use I wish....would to complain about a situation eg The phone has been ringing for 5 minutes. I wish somebody would answer it.Later the book says: We use I wish....would... for actions and changes, NOT situationsEG. I wish Sarah would comebut not: I wish Sarah would be here nowEG. I wish somebody would buy me a carbut not: I wish I would have a carI'm a bit confused about it. Can you make it clearer to me?Thanks

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

There are exceptions to every rule in English, but a fairly good one is to use would to refer to things that will happen in the future:
I wish / If only Sarah were here now!
I wish / If only Sarah would come tomorrow!
I wish / If only I had a car!
I wish / If only somebody would buy me a car!
CB

Kooyeen · Answer

Hi,
think of that "would" as the equivalent of "will" when there is backshifting. So I wish Sarah were here NOW.

Newguest · Answer

Thank you guys!!!

CalifJim · Answer

NewguestWe use I wish..would to complain about a situation eg The phone has been ringing for 5 minutes. I wish somebody would answer it.

Later the book says: We use I wish..would... for actions and changes, NOT situations

EG. I wish Sarah would come

but not: I wish Sarah would be here now

EG. I wish somebody would buy me a car

but not: I wish I would have a car

I'm a bit confused about it. Can you make it clearer to me?

The two statements in the book are not contradictory.
You complain about a situation by wishing an action or change would occur to alter the situation that you are complaining about.
In your first example, The phone has been ringing for 5 minutes is the situation that merits the complaint. This is not the wish ... would ... statement.
I wish somebody would answer it is the wish ... would ... statement, and the action or change you wish to occur is in the would part -- the answering of the phone.
In the final two examples, the situation that causes the complaint is missing.
For example, I don't have a car or I need a car might be the situation that goes with I wish somebody would buy me a car.
CJ

Newguest · Answer

Hi

I had to read it a few times before I understood it

Thanks CJ!

I wish.....would

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions