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Osama91 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

The WISH Problem!

Hi,

I've been tought that whenever wish is used, the sentence has to be in the past form. I totally understand this, but look at this:

I wish I was taller

I wish I WAS as tall as he IS.

How would the second one be correct?

THANK YOU


Osama
  

Top answer

How would the second one be correct? You're comparing your height as you wish it were to his height as it is now. The wish is about your height; not about his height.

— CalifJim

  • How would the second one be correct?
  • You're comparing your height as you wish it were to his height as it is now.
  • The wish is about your height; not about his height.
  • His height (as it is now) is being used only as the standard for the comparison.
  • CJ
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2 Answers
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How would the second one be correct?

You're comparing your height as you wish it were to his height as it is now.

The wish is about your height; not about his height.

His height (as it is now) is being used only as the standard for the comparison.

CJ
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Hi,

Your sentence is correct, because "I wish I was" refers to the present.

You can paraphrase it in the following way:

I wish I was tall (now) as him, but I am not as tall as he is (now).
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