I wish he wouldn't be so agressive/I wish he weren't so agressive

[Vladv1]

Is it possbie to say "I wish he wouldn't be so agressive" if I express anger, or should it be "I wish he weren't so agressive". The examples are mine.

 

[jutfrank]

They're both possible but they have different meanings/uses. You need to learn this difference.

 

[Tarheel]

@Vladv1 What do you think the difference is between them? (It's subtle.)

 

[emsr2d2]

Is it possbie

I suggest you install an English spell-checker on your browser to avoid such spelling errors. It would have underlined the word, alerting you to the fact that it doesn't exist in English.

 

[Vladv1]

@Vladv1 What do you think the difference is between them? (It's subtle.)

I think "would not be so agressive" expresses that I feel angry and '"he were not so agressive" is a neutral statement of fact?

 

[Tarheel]

No, it doesn't mean you're angry. In fact, what you're saying is you wish that person would control his temper better. In fact, now I think I'm going to have to talk to my usage consultant so I can give you a good answer.

 

[Vladv1]

No, it doesn't mean you're angry. In fact, what you're saying is you wish that person control his temper better. In fact, now I think I'm going to have to talk to my usage consultant so I can give you a good answer.

Will be looking forward. Thanks.

 

[emsr2d2]

Will be looking forward.

What does that mean?

 

[Tarheel]

MAYBE "would not be so "AGGRESSIVE" expresses that I feel angry and '"he were not so "AGGRESSIVE" is a neutral statement of fact?

"He is aggressive" is a simple statement of fact. "I wish he were not so aggressive" is an expression of disapproval.

 

[Vladv1]

What does that mean?

I mean I am looking forward for Tarheel's reply.

 

[Tarheel]

I mean I am looking forward TO Tarheel's reply.

 

[abo.omar]

I wish he wouldn't be so aggressive.
That means you are complaining about someone's bad temper of behavior and such behavior sees to be repeated .

 

[Tarheel]

I wish he wouldn't be so aggressive.
That means you are complaining about someone's bad temper OR behavior and such behavior IS HABITUAL.

That makes sense.

 

[abo.omar]

I wish he weren't so aggressive.
Here we are speaking about a single present situation saying that that person is so aggressive now. I hope he isn't so aggressive.
Is the verb wish is suitable here? I don't know.

 

[jutfrank]

I wish he weren't so aggressive.
Here we are speaking about a single present situation saying that that person is so aggressive now.

No, that's not quite right.

Here, we're talking about the person's character. You're saying that he is aggressive, by nature, and that you wish otherwise.

I hope he isn't so aggressive.

That's not correct.

Is the verb wish is suitable here? I don't know.

If it suits the intended meaning, then it's suitable, yes.

I wish he wouldn't be so aggressive.
That means you are complaining about someone's bad temper of behavior and such behavior sees to be repeated .

That's more or less right, yes. The point is that this is about habitual behaviour rather than character.

 

[Tarheel]

I wish he weren't so aggressive.
Here we are speaking about a single present situation saying that that person is TOO aggressive now. I hope he isn't so aggressive.
Is the verb wish is suitable here? I don't know.

The verb "wish" works quite well. However, you're more likely to be talking about habitual behavior rather than a single situation. Use "hope" for a situation you expect to happen in the future, thus: "I hope he isn't too aggressive."

 

[abo.omar]

No, that's not quite right.

Here, we're talking about the person's character. You're saying that he is aggressive, by nature, and that you wish otherwise.

That's not correct.

If it suits the intended meaning, then it's suitable, yes.

That's more or less right, yes. The point is that this is about habitual behaviour rather than character.

I think that if you know the person. What if you don't know him ? Will it be the same as you explained?
It was just a situation.

 

[Vladv1]

Does a similar explanation work for this- I wish it would stop raining (It is raining now and I want the rain to stop). I wish it stopped raining (means I want to stop raining every day)

 

[emsr2d2]

@abo.omar This is @Vladv1's thread. Please stop confusing the issue by adding your own questions. If you have queries of your own about the contents of this thread, start a thread of your own.

 

[Tarheel]

What's the difference between habitual behavior and character?

He's habitually aggressive = He's an aggressive person.

He's habitually friendly = He's a friendly person.

He's habitually lazy = He's a lazy person.