Quote:
|
Originally Posted by blacknomi Hello! X Mode,
I'm sorry. It sounds odd to my ear.  Do tell it if I am not on the wrong track!
Let me tell you how I feel,
"I wish I could keep the noise down."
I wish I could, but in reality, I can't. Why not?
"I can't because I just can not do it. When the vaccum cleans the carpet, it makes a lot of noise and it's designed to be like this. How can I do with it? You tell me! I would like to/want keep it down of course, I can't tolerate it myself. Well...I wish I had the ability to keep it quieter." I wouldn't think it a willingness to do something. It's simple that I can't do it.I am not the master of its mind. I wish I were, then I could. It's odd to say "would."  
It's your turn now!   |
You've got it. You're correct. It doesn't make sense to use "would" with "I wish" oftentimes. It can, but the context would have to allow for it. It would have to be a certain type of wish. It is possible that there is reason to use "could" here. "I wish I could the noise down."
There's no reason to think that you're refusing to keep the noise down or that for some reason it's impossible for you to do so if you are the one making the noise.
I've explained this before. I, at times, did not feel confident that people knew what I meant. They saw the "grammatical possibility". I'm not sure if they saw that it didn't make sense. Anyway, it's only come up a few times. And I won't bring it up if no one else does.