I wish I could speak English.

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abo.omar

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Aug 27, 2015
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Egypt
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1-I wish I would speak English one day.
2-I wish I could speak English one day.

I think number one is a wrong sentence because we use would with wish to express annoyance.
I think number two is a right sentence because we use could with wish to express ability.
Is it right?

3--I wish Omar could speak English one day.
4-I wish Omar would speak English one day.
Are number three and four right sentences?
It is a question of mine. The source of my this question is me.
 
None of them work. You can say I wish I could speak English, meaning "I wish I were capable of speaking English". You need the verb "hope" to express the idea you're aiming for. It can be followed by "can": I hope I can speak English some day … or by the future: I hope I'll be able to speak English some day.
 
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I think number two is a right sentence because we use could with wish to express ability.
Is [STRIKE]it[/STRIKE] that right?

Are number three and four right sentences?

[STRIKE]It is a question of mine. The source of my this question is me.[/STRIKE]
I wrote those sentences.
Note that the above two instances of "right" (highlighted in blue and underlined) are unnatural. We don't use "right" like that.
Use the word "natural" instead.
 
wish.JPGWhat about these sentences?
Are they different from mine?
 
It is possible to say:

I wish to speak English some day.
I hope to speak English some day.

I wish to be able to speak English some day.
I hope to be able to speak English some day.
 
1-I wish I could speak English.
2-I wish I could write better.
a-Why is number one wrong and number two correct?
b-When should I use I wish I could..?
 
You can speak English! If you said I wish I could speak Vietnamese, that would be possible.
You use "I wish I could" when talking/aspiring about something unlikely/difficult/remotely possible.
 
1-I wish I could speak English.
2-I wish I could write better.
a-Why is number one wrong and number two correct?
They're both correct. Look at post #2 again and you'll see that I didn't say that "I wish I could speak English" is wrong.
 
You can speak English! If you said I wish I could speak Vietnamese, that would be possible.
You use "I wish I could" when talking/aspiring about something unlikely/difficult/remotely possible.


Omar is a native Arabic speaker. Omar wishes he could speak English. Is this sentence correct?
 
Using "wish" and "would" together doesn't normally work in a first person singular sentence. It works with other persons.

I wish you would tidy your room. :tick:
I wish he wouldn't shout so much. :tick:
I wish they would come to our house more often. :tick:
I wish you would speak French on our annual trip to Paris. :tick:

I wish I would speak French. :cross:
 
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