I wish

[bulging]

Hello

I know that we use present tense in II conditional:
At an interview an interviewee says:
1. If you gave me a chance Mr Robertson, I would show how good I am. (not 'was')

A man is late for his birthday. His wife doesn't know where he might be; she says to his friend:
2. I wish you knew where he is/was

Now I am confused which is correct is or was? In sentence 1 we use am and what and why should we use in the 2 sentence?

Thank you

 

[Tdol]

You could use the present or the past in both of those examples for me. The present makes it more current, so it is more likely in both, but the past also works for me.

 

[bulging]

Thank you for your reply. But what do you mean by saying 'more current'? The background stays the same (
A man is late for his birthday. His wife doesn't know where he might be; she says to his friend):

1. I wish I knew where he was - meaning: where he was in the past or maybe now.
2. I wish I knew where he is - meaning: only now, at the present time.

I think according to the background is is only possible, correct?

 

[Rover_KE]

Both are possible.

 

[bulging]

Did I give the meaning correctly for 1 and 2?

thanks

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes.

 

[Tdol]

But what do you mean by saying 'more current'? The background stays the same

If you think that you were good at a specific time, then the past makes more sense. If you think that you showed your talent and it remains unchanged, then the present works because you still have that talent.