[Grammar] <Have/Had > never been born

[Checkmate]

"I wish I have/had never been born"

Which one is right? Present or Past Perfect? Does it depend on context?
I think "had" is right because it is Second/Third Conditional

 

[Matthew Wai]

I also think 'had' is right but I don't think it is a conditional sentence because there is no 'if-clause'.

Not a teacher.

 

[Checkmate]

I also think 'had' is right but I don't think it is a conditional sentence because there is no 'if-clause'.

Not a teacher.

I thought it was a conditional but why "had" is used instead of "have" even there's only an event

 

[Matthew Wai]

'If I had never been born, I would not have suffered so much.'
It should be the third conditional.

Not a teacher.

 

[Matthew Wai]

why "had" is used instead of "have" even there's only an event

http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/if_conditional10.php
After reading the above page, I have learned something.
I wish I had been born into a rich family. (actually I was not)
I wish I had a rich family. (actually I don't have)
The past perfect/simple past should be used in such constructions.

Not a teacher.

 

[tzfujimino]

That phrase reminds of a song called 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.

I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all.

 

[Checkmate]

http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/if_conditional10.php
After reading the above page, I have learned something.
I wish I had been born into a rich family. (actually I was not)
I wish I had a rich family. (actually I don't have)
The past perfect/simple past should be used in such constructions.

Not a teacher.

so this is Second Conditional

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think it is not so much 'the second conditional' as 'the wish subjunctive'.

Not a teacher.

 

[Checkmate]

I think it is not so much 'the second conditional' as 'the wish subjunctive'.

Not Teacher.

I went to the link above and this conditional is called as "unreal past" conditional which uses 2nd Conditional form. "the wish" is included in this conditional because "wish" is used to refer something that is impossibble

 

[Matthew Wai]

You may want to see http://www.youtube.com/embed/-vefS0B1DIY

Not a teacher.

 

[Tarheel]

Say:

I wish I had never been born.

- - - - - - - - - - - -​

Because if I had never been born I wouldn't have experienced so much pain.

 

[Tdol]

I went to the link above and this conditional is called as "unreal past" conditional which uses 2nd Conditional form. "the wish" is included in this conditional because "wish" is used to refer something that is impossibble

Regardless of whether the wish was today or ten thousand years ago?

 

[Matthew Wai]

1. I wish I had not missed the bus this morning. (today)
2. I wish Adam and Eve had not eaten the apple. (ten thousand years ago)
Are they correct? Any difference?

Not a teacher.

 

[Tdol]

I wish I didn't have to do it(now).

 

[Checkmate]

You may want to see http://www.youtube.com/embed/-vefS0B1DIY

Not a teacher.

There are some of differences between "Subjunctive" and "Unreal past" form

 

[Matthew Wai]

There are also some differences between the wish subjunctive and the second conditional.

Not a teacher.

 

[Tdol]

1. I wish I had not missed the bus this morning. (today)
2. I wish Adam and Eve had not eaten the apple. (ten thousand years ago)
Are they correct? Any difference?

Yes. No.

 

[Tarheel]

There is nothing more fun than conditionals.

;-)

 

[Matthew Wai]

They are fun for native speakers like you but confusing to non-native speakers like me.

Not a teacher.

 

[Roman55]

I am not a teacher.

The vast majority of native speakers don't care about first, second and third conditionals. They may be useful for teachers and learners, but the terms are irrelevant to native speakers.