I wish it would be true

[GoldfishLord]

A: All you must understand is once I am victorious in Hell, the High Heavens will welcome me home where I belong.
B: I wish it would be true, father.
A: Give me the key to Hell. I will not ask again.
B: You don't need to. I saw a vision of the key lifted from my corpse under the watchful eyes of the Great Serpent in my santum. If you are chosen, as you say, it will come to pass.

Source:

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What's the reason "would be" is used rather than "were"?

 

[emsr2d2]

Remember to cite the source of quotes every time. Please use the "Edit" facility to add the relevant information.

 

[jutfrank]

What's the reason "would be" is used rather than "were"?

That's because the speaker does not mean 'I wish it were true'.

I think I wish it would be true means 'I desire for it to happen'. This is about real future time rather than imaginary general time.

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure that the grammar is correct, but I think it is. What do other members think?

 

[teechar]

What do other members think?

Yes, I think the OP is wasting their time listening to such material if their intention is to learn English from it.

 

[jutfrank]

Yes, I think the OP is wasting their time listening to such material if their intention is to learn English from it.

I tend to agree. I think if the aim is to use this text as study material, GoldfishLord would presently benefit from reading something else. If this is just a question that arises from playing computer games, however, I suppose it's fair enough.

 

[EngLearner]

That's because the speaker does not mean 'I wish it were true'.

"Were" is about a present state. I think it would work in this example:

A: All you must understand is that I am victorious in Hell.
B: I wish it were true, father. But I know you're lying to me.

 

[Tarheel]

"I wish it would be true" is, I think, very odd phrasing.

 

[EngLearner]

How about these variations:

1. I wish it would become true, father.
2. I wish it would happen, father.

Do they work in the context of post #1?

 

[jutfrank]

"Were" is about a present state. I think it would work in this example:

A: All you must understand is that I am victorious in Hell.
B: I wish it were true, father. But I know you're lying to me.

Yes, that's right.