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Newguest Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

would/were

Hi

1. I wish he would be taller

2. She wishes he would be rich

--- is it OK to use "would," maybe it's better to write: I wish he were taller AND She wishes he were rich?
  

Top answer

Hi, 1. I wish he would be taller 2. She wishes he would be rich --- is it OK to use "would," maybe it's better to write: I wish he were taller AND She wishes he were rich?

  • Hi, 1.
  • I wish he would be taller 2.
  • She wishes he would be rich --- is it OK to use "would," maybe it's better to write: I wish he were taller AND She wishes he were rich?
  • Yes, say 'were', 'not would be'.
  • Clive
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6 Answers
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Hi,

1. I wish he would be taller

2. She wishes he would be rich

--- is it OK to use "would," maybe it's better to write: I wish he were taller AND She wishes he were rich?

Yes, say 'were', 'not would be'.

Clive
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Hi

But is it incorrect to use WOULD?

I have one more question.

a) I wish I could read fast

b) I wish he would stop crying

Do A and B refer to the present or to the future?

Thanks
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I wish he were taller. (Would is not correct because he is not taller and he cannot control his height. The sentence is in the present tense, subjunctive mood. )
I wish I could read fast. (Present tense.)

I wish he would stop crying. (He can control his behaviour at any time, and the sentence states something that is true, so "would" is correct. "I wish", and "he is crying" are
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NewguestBut is it incorrect to use WOULD?

I have one more question.

a) I wish I could read fast

b) I wish he would stop crying

Do A and B refer to the present or to the future?
Would is incorrect in the examples in your first post. a) and b) are correct. a) refers to the present and b) to the future.
English
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Newguest1. I wish he would be taller

2. She wishes he would be rich

--- is it OK to use "would,"
No. Not in these. You can use it if the subject has some control over the result, however -- which is not exactly the case for being tall or rich.

I wish she would shut up and sit down!
CJ

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