Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[ivogel]

A: Will you stay for lunch?
B: I wish I could. / I wish I would.

In the above dialog, what is difference of 'I wish I could.' and 'I wish I would.'?
And what is the appropriate sentence?

Thank you.

[myprofe]

Correction: What is the difference between...?

The correct answer is "I wish I could". I can't but it would be wonderful if I could.

We use wish + would to talk about things that you would like to be different but never in the first person "I".

I wish my boss wouldn't talk to me that way.

I wish people would be more polite.

I wish it would never rain on my vacation.


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