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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

what is the difference?

Hi,
What is the difference ?
'I wish you spoke English.'
'I wish you would speak English.'

I need a native speaker to answer,please.

Thanks
  

Top answer

'I wish that you spoke English' implies that the person you are talking to does not know how to speak English, and that you desire him/her to. Example: If you're driving along in China and you accidentally run over an old man who starts bleeding all over the place and screaming so you call the police. Nobody at the station speaks English and you are getting very frustrated trying to talk to the operator.

— Jeremy Brown

  • 'I wish that you spoke English' implies that the person you are talking to does not know how to speak English, and that you desire him/her to.
  • Example: If you're driving along in China and you accidentally run over an old man who starts bleeding all over the place and screaming so you call the police.
  • Nobody at the station speaks English and you are getting very frustrated trying to talk to the operator.
  • " 'I wish that you would speak English' implies that the person that you're talking to knows how to speak English (and that you know they can speak English), but for whatever reason they are not doing so.
  • "
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2 Answers
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'I wish that you spoke English' implies that the person you are talking to does not know how to speak English, and that you desire him/her to.

Example: If you're driving along in China and you accidentally run over an old man who starts bleeding all over the place and screaming so you call the police. Nobody at the station speaks English and you are getting very frustrated tryin
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Excellent explanation..!!!

Good clarity...!!!
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