use of wish

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ESL forum > Ask for help > use of wish

use of wish

Lizzie74

use of wish

I �m not sure about the tense of the following sentence: I was born in Liverpool but the town where I wish I had been born is London. Is it correct or should I say " I wish I was born"? Thanks for you help

24 Feb 2015

Apodo

You have the tense correct.

I was born in Liverpool, but I wish I had been born in London.

London is a well known city rather than a town, and it is unnecessary to add where in the sentence. Here are some more natural sounding variations:

I was born in the village of Stoneleigh, but I wish I had been born in the city of London.

I was born in the city of Liverpool, but the city I wish I had been born in is London.

24 Feb 2015

zailda

After "wish", we use the past subjunctive to express a wish about the present (be = were for all persons. Was can be used in informal speech).

I wish Mom were here now.

I wish I had a car.

To express a wish about the past, the past perfect subjunctive is used after wish.

I wish I had gone to bed earlier yesterday.

I wish I had been born in the U.S.

Wish is also used as "please" followed by would.

I wish you wouldn �t make so much noise.

24 Feb 2015

Lizzie74

Thanks a lot.

25 Feb 2015