[David L.]

If I had a car, I'd drive every day. I wish I had a car
If I bought a car, I'd drive every day. I wish I could buy a car.

I can't explain why it's not right to say "I wish I bought a car". Can anybody help me?


If I buy a car (today), then I could drive it every day.
If I bought a car (later on today) then I could drive it every day.(-future)
I wish I could buy a car so I could drive it every day.

If I have bought a car that is stolen, then I cannot (legally) drive it .
I wish I had (not) bought a stolen car ...

If I had bought a car then I could/would be driving it every day.
I wish I had bought a car because now I would be driving it every day.
I wish I had bought a car so that I could have driven it to the party last week.

Understand that 'if...then' sentences are Conditional and such sentences have their tenses.
'I wish' sentences have their own tenses.
Which of the constructions above do you have trouble with?