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Do i use 'i wish" correctly now? I wish I knew his address. (but I don't) I wish I had known his address (then I could visit him when I was in his city). I wish I could know his address (I tell it to smb who knows this information and can help me) He works in a small cafe. – His wife wishes he worked in a bank. His wife wishes he had worked in a bank (in this case his service pension would be better) His wife wishes he would work in a bank. (So he sent his CV to several banks and now is waiting for an answer). Do you wish you were rich and famous? (now) Do you wish you had been rich and famous when you was married with Jane? Do you wish you would be rich and famous? (in the future)

Corrections · 6

1

Do I use 'I wish" correctly now?

 

Yes.... and no.

 

I wish I knew his address. (but I don't)

This is fine
I wish I had known his address (so I could have visited him when I was in his city).

This is fine
I wish I could know his address (I tell it to smb who knows this information and can help me)

This doesn't work. It isn't clear what you want to say here. The idea is the same as the first - I wish I knew.


He works in a small cafe. – His wife wishes he worked in a bank.

Yes, this is fine
His wife wishes he had worked in a bank (in this case his service pension would be better)Y

Yes, this makes sense
His wife wishes he would work in a bank. (So he sent his CV to several banks and now is waiting for an answer).

The form 'She wishes he would ...' exists, but this isn't what it means. This is the same idea as the first sentence.


Do you wish you were rich and famous? (now)

Yes, that's fine.
Do you wish you had been rich and famous when you married Jane or got married to Jane?

The 'I wish' structure is fine here.
Do you wish you would be rich and famous? (in the future)

No, this doesn't work at all. You can't use this form for the future.

 

You have clearly understood the use of 'I wish' for unreal scenarios in the present and past.


The problem is the third sentence in each set, where you are trying to use constructions which don't exist, make no sense, or which can't be used in with 'I wish'. Are you trying to translate constructions from Russian, perhaps?


Just be content with the first two sentences in each set - they're fine.

 

 

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