A practical english grammar - Vyssaja skola 1978

THAT-dauses after WISH
Sound symbols

After wish, that-clauses express events that are unreal or contrary to fact. The past tense of the verb is used to express unreal events that are contemporary with the main verb.

I wish (now) that I had a million dollars (now).

I wished (yesterday) that I had a million dollars (then).

Unreal events at some time earlier than that of the main verb are expressed by had and the past participle.

I wish (now) that I had known (yesterday).

I wished (then) that I had known (earlier).

The past of be ordinarily consists jf two forms, was and were, with the well-known rule requiring was for singular subjects (except you) and were for plural subjects and you. In clauses expressing unreality, were is used for all subjects. (This rule applies not only to clauses fol­lowing wish, but—even more important—to if-clauses; see Chapter 18.)

I wish I were you.

I wish it weren’t so hot; we could play tennis.

This is the rule that is taught in schools, and most speakers and writers are generally faithful in observing it. However, there is a fair-sized minority both in America and in Great Britain that considers it correct occasionally to use was with third-person subjects even when the verb expresses unreality. Consequently, the student will sometimes hear or read such sentences as “I know that’s not your car, but I’ll bet you wish it was” or “I wish this day was over.”

Only those modals that express unreality can be used after wish.

I wish I could help you.

I wish I might leave now.

I wish it would rain.

Contrast: WISH, WANT, DESIRE. These verbs are similar in their mean­ing but quite different in their grammar.

All three may be followed by noun + infinitive.

I want him to do this.

I wish him to do this.

I desire him to do this.

Wish often replaces want in formal language because of a reluctance on the part of speakers and writers to use the ordinary word. Desire in this usage is extremely formal and would not sound appropriate in ordinary circumstances.

Want is never followed by that-clauses.

Wish may be followed by the type of that-clause described in Pat­tern I4.I.

I wish that this be done at once.

This use is not frequent, however, and is done most often in a puristic effort to avoid saying want.