I wish...

[musicgold]

Hi,

What is the difference between these two sentences?

1. I just wish they didn’t wait until the last minute.
2. I just wish they don’t wait until the last minute.

Thanks,

MG.

 

[Raymott]

Hi,

What is the difference between these two sentences?

1. I just wish they didn’t wait until the last minute.
2. I just wish they don’t wait until the last minute.

Thanks,

MG.

The first is grammatically correct.
1. can refer to the past (I just wish they hadn't waited until the last minute.) 1. can also refer to habitual action is the future. 1. I just wish they didn’t always wait until the last minute.

'Hope' is more appropriate for 2.
2. I just hope they don’t wait until the last minute. This refers to one event in the future.

 

[2006]

Hi,

What is the difference between these two sentences?
3. I just wish they hadn't waited until the last minute. (refers to the past)
1. I just wish they didn’t (always) wait until the last minute. (refers to a recurring situation)
2. I just wish they don’t wait until the last minute. (refers to the future)

Thanks,

MG.

2006

 

[Raymott]

2006

I would have thought you'd claim that 1 could mean 3.

 

[2006]

I would have thought you'd claim that 1 could mean 3.

No, I think in this case 3 is clearly much better for the past, because 2 is most suggestive of a recurring situation. ("always")

 

[philo2009]

Hi,

What is the difference between these two sentences?

1. I just wish they didn’t wait until the last minute.
2. I just wish they don’t wait until the last minute.

Thanks,

MG.

#2 is ungrammatical. 'Wish' is followed by a main verb in the past subjunctive.

 

[2006]

#2 is ungrammatical. 'Wish' is followed by a main verb in the past subjunctive.

??

 

[philo2009]

??

Is something unclear here?

 

[2006]

Is something unclear here?

How is 2. the past subjunctive?

 

[philo2009]

How is 2. the past subjunctive?

It is not.

That is precisely why it is ungrammatical...

 

[2006]

It is not.

That is precisely why it is ungrammatical...

Why don't you just come out and tell us in plain straightforward English what is wrong with sentence two.
'Raymott prefers "hope", but there is nothing wrong with "wish" there. "wish" is used for a past regret; "hope" is not used for a past regret, but either one can be used when referring to the future, which sentence 2 does.

 

[philo2009]

Why don't you just come out and tell us in plain straightforward English what is wrong with sentence two.
'Raymott prefers "hope", but there is nothing wrong with "wish" there. "wish" is used for a past regret; "hope" is not used for a past regret, but either one can be used when referring to the future, which sentence 2 does.

I believe I have done so.

Allow me to summarize:

1. The verb 'wish' governs any dependent verb in the past subjunctive.

2. 'Do/don't', as contained in sentence 2, is a form of the present indicative, and not of the past subjunctive.

3. Ergo, sentence 2 is ungrammatical.

Is that sufficiently 'plain and straightforward' for you?
Do you require an explanation of the term 'subjunctive'?

 

[2006]

I believe I have done so.

Allow me to summarize:

1. The verb 'wish' governs :roll: any dependent verb in the past subjunctive.

2. 'Do/don't', as contained in sentence 2, is a form of the present indicative, and not of the past subjunctive.

3. Ergo, sentence 2 is ungrammatical.

Is that sufficiently 'plain and straightforward' for you?
Do you require an explanation of the term 'subjunctive'?

What ivory-tower goobledegook you speak! Go back there where you belong.

 

[Munch]

Whatever the explanation is, sentence 2 sounds incorrect to me. I would be happy if someone broke it down and explained why it is correct, though.

2. I just wish they don’t wait until the last minute. :cross:

I just wish they wouldn’t wait until the last minute. :tick:
I just wish they didn’t wait until the last minute. :tick:
I just wish they hadn’t waited until the last minute. :tick:

 

[2006]

Whatever the explanation is, sentence 2 sounds incorrect to me. I would be happy if someone broke it down and explained why it is correct, though.
2. I just wish they don’t wait until the last minute. :cross:

I just wish they wouldn’t wait until the last minute. :tick:
I just wish they didn’t wait until the last minute. :tick:
I just wish they hadn’t waited until the last minute. :tick:

Perhaps it's harder to explain why something is correct. I just don't see any problem with it, and specifically I don't see a need for the subjunctive.

'They can decide it however they wish to decide it. I just wish they don't wait until the last minute (to decide it).'
Maybe it's a difference between British and North American English, or maybe a difference between 'academic' English and everyday English.

 

[5jj]

Maybe it's a difference between British and North American English, or maybe a difference between 'academic' English and everyday English.

It must be that, because it is not standard BrE. Unlike hope, which suggests the thing desired is deemed possible , wish suggests that this thing is unlikely or impossible.

The verb in the dependent clause therefore conveys a distancing/remote message suggested by a past tense. It is not particularly helpful in modern English to insist that this be a subjunctive. BE is the only verb in which the past subjunctive form is different from the indicative, and many people do not use the subjunctive form anyway.

They waited: I wish they hadn't waited. [past time]
They wait: I wish they didn't wait. [present, general time]
They will* wait: I wish they wouldn't wait. [present, general time]

I wish they don't wait: unacceptable in standard Br E.

I hope they aren't waiting [present/general/future]
I hope they don't wait [present/general/future]
I hope they won't wait [present/general/future]


*will - insistence, habit, characteristic.

 

[5jj]

What ivory-tower goobledegook you speak! Go back there where you belong.

And personal comments like that do not help convince anybody that your comments are somehow more valid than those of others.

 

[TheParser]

Hi,

What is the difference between these two sentences?

1. I just wish they didn’t wait until the last minute.
2. I just wish they don’t wait until the last minute.

Thanks,

MG.

********** NOT A TEACHER **********


Musicgold,


I, too, learned a lot from the other posters' comments. I agree with

one gentleman who suggested "hope" for No. 2.

I found something in Mr. Michael Swan's Practical English

Usage that may be of help to you in the future:

I wish (that) you wouldn't drive so fast. = Please don't drive so fast [at this moment].
I wish (that) you didn't drive so fast. = I'm sorry that you [always] drive so fast.

*****

I wish (that) you wouldn't work on Saturdays. = Why don't you stop [quit]?
I wish (that) you didn't work on Saturdays. = It's a pity.

********** NOT A TEACHER **********

 

[philo2009]

What ivory-tower goobledegook you speak! Go back there where you belong.

Just general-use grammatical terminology. You might do well to acquire some, as it tends to come in useful when one is answering questions about English grammar.

:lol:

 

[2006]

1. The verb 'wish' governs any dependent verb in the past subjunctive.

Do you think any learner of English is going to understand the above sentence? It is a very odd sentence, even to native speakers.

If you mean that the verb "wish" requires any dependent verb to be in the past subjunctive, say so.

As for me, I speak understandable English. and you would do well to do the same.