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Canuck1
Joined: 01 May 2003
Posts: 4
Location: Doha, Qatar
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 Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2003 10:08 am Post subject: Verb be after "I wish" |
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I have a small question that I hope has an answer. Is there any situation where it is correct to use 'was' with I, he, she or it after I wish?
I thought I read something about that last year, but I can't remember for sure. Any thoughts? |
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Capergirl
Joined: 02 Feb 2003
Posts: 1232
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
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| Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2003 11:32 am Post subject: |
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I believe there is a use for "was" in that context. It has something to do with possibility vs. impossibility or unlikelihood (I think).
For example: I wish I were a millionaire. (not very likely)
I wish I was back in Canada. (very possible or likely)
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, please. I'm only on my first coffee and I have to go look this up to get a good explanation.  |
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dduck
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 422
Location: In the middle
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| Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2003 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Capergirl wrote: |
I believe there is a use for "was" in that context. It has something to do with possibility vs. impossibility or unlikelihood (I think).
For example: I wish I were a millionaire. (not very likely)
I wish I was back in Canada. (very possible or likely) |
It seems to be the same as Spanish, which uses the subjunctive mood ('were') for unreal situations and the indicative mood ('was') for real or probable situations. Don't know about English though! 
Iain |
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Corey
Joined: 05 Jul 2003
Posts: 112
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2003 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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Caper, as far as I know you can't say "I wish I was...",
but yes, you can say "I wish I were.." or "I wish he was..."
Unreal past.
Corey |
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NumberOneSon
Joined: 03 Jul 2003
Posts: 314
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| Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2003 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Corey wrote: |
Caper, as far as I know you can't say "I wish I was...",
but yes, you can say "I wish I were.." or "I wish he was..."
Unreal past.
Corey |
That's why I always switch to Ebonics when the grammar gets tough.
"I wish I be..."
(just trying to keep it real  ). |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2003 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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"I wish this test wasn't so difficult!" would be common in British English. The Americans tend to hang on to the subjunctive more.
I do not believe thare is any semantic difference between "I wish he were here" and "I wish he was here". It's a matter of individual choice, heavily affected by the geographical origin of the speaker, and possibly marginally affected by the register. |
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guest of Japan
Joined: 28 Feb 2003
Posts: 1601
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2003 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Mr. Jones always explains the grammar so well. I wish he was/were to write a grammar guide. |
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Cobra
Joined: 28 Jul 2003
Posts: 436
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2003 12:01 am Post subject: |
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NEWS FLASH!!
It really does not matter!
If you do not understand the simplicity of this post then you prove the point of this post. |
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Corey
Joined: 05 Jul 2003
Posts: 112
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2003 1:15 am Post subject: |
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Yes I suppose it doesn't matter if you don't care about teaching students correctly.  |
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Celeste
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 814
Location: Fukuoka City, Japan
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