The word "wish" is used to express a desire for something that is not real or possible at the moment. It can refer to the past, present, or future, and each usage has different grammar rules. Here is an overview of how to use "wish" with examples: ### 1. Wishing for the Present When you want to express a desire for something different in the present, you use the past simple tense. **Structure: I wish + subject + past simple** - **Examples:** - I wish I had a car. (I don't have a car now, but I want one.) - She wishes she were taller. (She is not tall, but she wants to be taller.) - They wish it weren't raining. (It is raining now, but they don't want it to rain.) ### 2. Wishing for the Past When you want to express a regret about something that happened (or didn't happen) in the past, you use the past perfect tense. **Structure: I wish + subject + past perfect** - **Examples:** - I wish I had studied harder for the exam. (I didn't study hard, and now I regret it.) - He wishes he had gone to the party. (He didn't go to the party, and now he regrets it.) - They wish they hadn't eaten so much. (They ate a lot, and now they regret it.) ### 3. Wishing for the Future When you want to express a desire for something to change in the future, you can use "would" + base verb. **Structure: I wish + subject + would + base verb** - **Examples:** - I wish you would come to my party. (I want you to come to my party in the future.) - She wishes it would stop raining. (She wants it to stop raining soon.) - They wish their boss would give them a raise. (They want their boss to give them a raise in the future.) ### 4. Wishing with "Could" When you want to express a desire to be able to do something that is not possible at the moment, you use "could". **Structure: I wish + subject + could + base verb** - **Examples:** - I wish I could speak French. (I can't speak French, but I want to.)