Sentences with WISH

of using the verb WISH which is widely used in

English, but which is difficult for language learners. Constructions with the verb WISH express hypothetical, unlikely, or unreal wishes
The presentation contains theoretical part, recommendations for teaching and a test.

Wish and want

First of all we can use wish +

infinitive or wish + object + infinitive to mean want in a formal situation.

I wish to leave now. (+ infinitive)

I wish to speak to your supervisor please. (+ infinitive)

I do not wish my name to appear on the list. (+ object + infinitive)

expressions

We can also use I / We wish you in fixed expressions.

I

wish you a happy birthday.

We wish you good luck in your new job.

that we want a situation in the present (or future)

to be different.

I wish I spoke Italian.
I don't speak Italian.

I wish I had a big car.
I don't have a big car.

I wish I was on a beach. I'm in the office.

I wish it was the weekend tomorrow. (future) It's only Thursday tomorrow.

use wish + past perfect to express a regret, or that we want

a situation in the past to be different.

I wish I hadn't eaten so much. I ate a lot.

I wish they'd come on holiday with us. They didn't come on holiday with us.

I wish I had studied harder at school. I was lazy at school.

doing a different action in the present (or future).

I wish I was lying on

a beach now. I'm sitting in the office.
I wish it wasn't raining. It is raining.
I wish you weren't leaving tomorrow. You are leaving tomorrow.

Wish + would

We use wish +

would + bare infinitive to express impatience, annoyance or dissatisfaction with a present action.

I wish you would stop smoking. You are smoking at the moment and it is annoying me.

I wish it would stop raining. I'm impatient because it is raining and I want to go outside.

I wish she'd be quiet. I am annoyed because she is speaking.

Wish and hope
To simply express

that you want something to happen in the future (not talking about wanting an action or situation to be different, and not talking about impatience or annoyance) we use hope, not wish.

I hope it's sunny tomorrow. NOT I wish it was sunny tomorrow.

I hope she passes her exam next week. NOT I wish she were passing her exam next week.

I hope the plane doesn't crash tomorrow. NOT I wish the plane wouldn't crash tomorrow.

Best ideas for teaching wish
Pictures work best. Because with one

single picture you can make up a lot of different sentences. Something simple like a picture of someone doing something is easy to find in any magazines.

Plenty of repetition with different examples and different pictures will give students the idea and the structure.  You can do the same for any of the "wish" structures.

song called Wishlist and the song constantly repeats the form, "I wish..."

Also, a great listening activity.

Pearl Jam,  Wishlist  …
I wish I was a neutron bomb, for once I could go off I wish I was a sacrifice, but somehow still lived on I wish I was a sentimental ornament you hung on The Christmas tree, I wish I was the star that went on top I wish I was the evidence, I wish I was the grounds For 50 million hands upraised and open toward the sky I wish I was a sailor with someone who waited for me I wish I was as fortunate, as fortunate as me I wish I was a messenger and all the news was good I wish I was the full moon shining off your Camaro's hood ………………………. I wish I was a radio song, the one that you turned up I wish... I wish...

and I tell teenagers or even adult students that they

should make three wishes for the genie.
Create a situation related to the social background of your students, let them express their feelings about it.
Provide a context, choose funny daily situations. Let's keep things simple.

Test


1. I wish I (to can)   give

up smoking.
2. She wishes she (to see) him at yesterday's party.
3. I wish I (to pass) my driving test last Monday.
4. I wish I (not to forget)   my friend's birthday yesterday.
5. The boy is sad. He wishes he (not to break)    the window.
6. My aunt wishes she (to stay)   at home last

 7. He wishes he (to know)   something about cars.
 8. I wish it (to be)   sunny.
 9. I wish it (to be)   sunny during our picnic last Saturday.
 

My friend wishes he (not to do)   that

last night.
 12. I wish I (to bring)   my camera last summer.
13. I wish I (to can)   tell the future.
14. Do you wish you (to be)   in the Guinness Book of Records?
15. Some people wish they (to can)   appear on a TV game show and become famous.
16. She often wishes things (to be)  different.