[Grammar] I wish the police would catch the thief.

[beachboy]

In what context is the sentence above possible? I've found it in a book, without any context. I was puzzled...

 

[teechar]

In what context is the sentence above possible?

Can you try first?

I found it in a book, without any context.

Really, not even a picture?!

 

[Rover_KE]

I don't believe there's no context.

What book prints random sentences without a context?

Who would publish it or expect to sell it?

Who would buy it or consider reading it?

 

[beachboy]

Can you try first?

Simple past, rather than present perfect? Why? The time is not important.


Really, not even a picture?!

As, I said, really. Not even a picture.

 

[beachboy]

I don't believe there's no context.

What book prints random sentences without a context?

Who would publish it or expect to sell it?
Who would buy it or consider reading it?

It was purely one of many examples with the structure "I wish somebody would...". No context. The teacher or the students will contextualize, if necessary.

 

[beachboy]

The police have not yet caught a certain thief. The writer would be happy if the police caught the thief.

The sentence is a natural and normal way to express a wish for a future situation.[/QUOTES

Do you mean "I wish the police would catch the thief" means the same as "I would like the police to catch the thief"? With no sorrow or regret? If so, it doesn't always happen, does it?

 

[beachboy]

Could it be because I'm pessimistic, almost sure that the police won't catch the thief? I thought that if it were a normal wish for a future situation I would say "I hope the police will catch the thief".

 

[tzfujimino]

Could it be because I'm pessimistic, almost sure that the police won't catch the thief? I thought that if it were a normal wish for a future situation I would say "I hope the police will catch the thief".

Please visit here and scroll down to Wish/if only and would:
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/intermediate-grammar/wish-and-if-only

I hope it will shed some light on your query.

 

[beachboy]

Please visit here and scroll down to Wish/if only and would:
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/intermediate-grammar/wish-and-if-only

I hope it will shed some light on your query.

I understood all the examples given. But I'm still not sure about the context of my sentence. Does it mean the same as "I would like the police to catch the thief"? Am I using "wish... would" because I'm pessimistic? Not catching the thief is not what I call "annoying".

 

[Skrej]

I hope the police catch the thief.
I wish the police would catch the thief.
I would like the police to catch the thief.

Without further context, you can consider them to mean the same thing, with no difference. Without context, there's nothing implied about being pessimistic. Without context, you could pick one by throwing a dart.

 

[jutfrank]

The sentence sounds unlikely to me. Why would a speaker choose to use a wish...would structure here? It implies some sense of annoyance. Is the speaker irritated/unimpressed at the police's lack of effort? Or unwillingness to act? Or lack of progress? Possibly, but I might expect to hear something like I wish the police would hurry up and catch whoever did it! or I wish they would catch him already!

A much more likely sentence is I hope the police catch the thief, which carries no sense of annoyance.