Wish

Question

Can anyone explain to me the use of 'would' with 'wish'?

Is it correct to use the same subject before and after 'wish' with 'would'? Also can we use 'I' and 'we' with would after wish?

Are these senteces correct?

He wishes he would join a good university.

My parents wishes I would join a good university.

Thanks

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

anonymousIs it correct to use the same subject before and after 'wish' with 'would'?

No. Sentences like I wish I would have a brother or Paul wishes he would vacation in Japan make no sense. It's always that one person wishes that another person would do something (that he's not doing now or hasn't done yet).

You might say, however, without would, I wish I had a brother or Paul wishes he had a chance to vacation in Japan.

anonymousAlso can we use 'I' and 'we' with would after wish?

I take it you intend this to be a different pattern than the first one you asked about and therefore with a different subject before 'wish' and 'would'.

Yes, you can do that:

My friends wish I would talk less about politics and religion.
Our teacher wishes we would come to class on time now and then.

anonymousHe wishes he would join a good university.

This is a bad example. Does 'he' refer to the same person twice or to two different people? If the former, it's not correct; if the latter, it's correct. But see the answer below regarding the use of "join".

anonymousMy parents ~~wishes~~ wish I would join a good university.

Another bad example. You can't just "join a university". You have to apply for admission and be accepted. The following is OK, however:

My parents wish I would apply for admission to a good university.

CJ

Wish

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