Help with "I wish I were" rich.

[arabiangoddess]

Please can someone help me break this down, what form it is and what which tense this is in. Important words are "I wish I were"

[river]

Were is the subjunctive - used to express a wish, a demand, a requirement, an exhortation, or a statement contrary to fact.

[sandhya.sha]

Originally Posted by river

Were is the subjunctive - used to express a wish, a demand, a requirement, an exhortation, or a statement contrary to fact.

The past form 'were' denotes an unfulfilled condition.
" I wish I were rich."
Meaning, "I am not rich, and I desire to be rich."

"were" is also used in the following example to show an unreal condition.
" He kissed her as if she were his daughter."
Here, the girl is not his daughter. But he kissed her as he would kiss his daughter.

[arabiangoddess]

Thanks but what is the target language? Is it present tense or present continuous or other?

[Coffa]

Originally Posted by arabiangoddess

Thanks but what is the target language? Is it present tense or present continuous or other?

I assume you mean the 'target tense'?

"I wish (that) I were rich."

The first clause is in the present simple tense (indicative mood), and the second is in the past simple tense (subjunctive mood).