[Grammar] Wish

Question 1

I wish you _ (wouldn’t? didn’t?) keep interrupting me. (= please stop interrupting me)

Answer 1

I wish you wouldn’t keep interrupting me. (= please stop interrupting me)

You can use I wish … wouldn’t … to complain about things that people do repeatedly.

Question 2

I wish I _ (know) what to do about the problem. (but I don’t know)

Answer 2

I wish I knew what to do about the problem. (but I don’t know)

We use wish to say that we regret something, that something is not as we would like it.

Question 3

I wish Sarah _ come. (= I want her to come)
I wish Sarah _ here now. (not I wish Sarah would be)

Answer 3

I wish Sarah would come.
I wish Sarah was here now.

or: ‘wish Sarah were here’

Notice how ‘would’ tends to be used with verbs of actions, and ‘past tense’, with state verbs.

Question 4

The phone has been ringing for five minutes. I wish somebody _ answer it.

Answer 4

The phone has been ringing for five minutes. I wish somebody would answer it.

Question 5

I wish I _ (have) a car.
I wish somebody _ (buy) me a car.

Answer 5

I wish I had a car.
I wish somebody would buy me a car.

Question 6

Do you ever wish you _ (live) near the sea?

Answer 6

Do you ever wish you lived near the sea?

Question 7

I wish I _ (earn) more money.
I wish my boss _ (raise) my salary.

Answer 7

I wish I earned more money.
I wish my boss would raise my salary.