DESIRE SENTENCESDESIRE SENTENCES

2nd of Bachillerato

DESIRE SENTENCESTHERE ARE TWO STRUCTURES TO EXPRESS DESIRE IN ENGLISH:

- WHEN IT EXPRESSES A PRESENT SITUATION THAT THE SPEAKER IS

UNHAPPY ABOUT and WANTS TO CHANGE OR IMPROVE

SUBJECT + WISH

PAST SIMPLE

IF ONLY + SUBJECT

I wish I had more money.

He wishes he were here.

IF THE VERB IN PAST SIMPLE IS “TO BE”, YOU USE WERE WITH ALL

SUBJECTS (IT IS SUBJUNCTIVE)

If only I were blonde and beautiful!

She wishes she weren’t so stubborn.

DESIRE SENTENCES

- WHEN IT EXPRESSES REGRET ABOUT A PAST ACTION OR SITUATION

SUBJECT + WISH

PAST PERFECT

IF ONLY + SUBJECT

She wishes you hadn’t lied.

I wish I had visited London when I went to England.

DESIRE SENTENCES

- WHEN IT EXPRESSES A DESIRE FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN IN

THE FUTURE

SUBJECT + WISH SUBJECT +COULD/ WOULD + INFINITIVE

They wish it would rain tomorrow.

She wishes she could come with us.

I wish you would be quiet.

WHEN BOTH SUBJECTS ARE DIFFERENT, YOU CAN ONLY USE WOULD