wish and would

[ridvann]

Hello,

When we want to talk about situations we are not happy about and where we want someone else to change them, we use to wish followed by would + infinitive:

I wish we would answer their letter.

I wish we would stop smoking.

Can we use the pronoun 'I' with 'we' together? Because the pronoun 'we' contains the pronoun 'I'?

Thanks...

 

[emsr2d2]

Hello,

When we want to talk about situations we are not happy about and where we want someone else to change them, we use to wish followed by would + infinitive:

I wish we would answer their letter.

I wish we would stop smoking.

Can we use the pronoun 'I' with 'we' together? Because the pronoun 'we' contains the pronoun 'I'?

Thanks...

There's no reason why you can't have "I" and "we" in the same sentence but neither of your sentences are entirely natural. It's the combination of "we" and "would" that doesn't work.

I wish you would answer their letter.
I wish we had answered their letter sooner.
I wish we could answer their letter.

I wish we could stop smoking.
I think we should stop smoking.
I wish you would stop smoking.
I wish they would smoke less.

"We would" just doesn't go after "wish".

 

[ridvann]

So we can't use it in that way. Thanks for the answer. Because my teacher in school said we could use them together, and after that I was confused. Thanks...

 

[emsr2d2]

So we can't use it in that way. Thanks for the answer. Because my teacher in school said we could use them together, and after that I was confused. Thanks...

If your teacher can give you an example sentence using the construction and you can post it here, I'd be interested to see it.

 

[ridvann]

It is the first sentence I have given. He is not a native person and a new teacher maybe for this reason he is confused about it.

Thanks all the answers... I always note all the answers you give.

 

[david11]

Hello,

When we want to talk about situations we are not happy about and where we want someone else to change them, we use to wish followed by would + infinitive:

.

Not a teacher.

I think we use wish to express regret that things are not different and the sentence followed by wish is unreal and impossible.

I wish it would rain today.(It appears that it won't rain)


Thank you.

I wish I would go home soon.(It appears that I won't go home soon)


For your question I think it is possible to use we after I.

Lets assume we are playing a cricket match. We need to score 40 runs in a over. In that position we can't win the match but I feel it will be nice if we win the match.

I say: I wish we would win the match.(We represents the entire team).


I am not sure about my answer.So,let us wait for a teacher to reply.

 

[5jj]

As emsr2d2 said, that sentence is not correct. It would not be correct with 'will', either.

 

[ridvann]

Lets assume we are playing a cricket match. We need to score 40 runs in a over. In that position we can't win the match but I feel it will be nice if we win the match.

I say: I wish we would win the match.(We represents the entire team).

I think it is impossible as the teachers have said.

 

[5jj]

I think it is impossible as the teachers have said.

'Impossible' is too strong a word, in my opinion. You will frequently hear native speakers using constructions that any grammar book or teacher will tell you are 'unacceptable'. Sometimes it is even possible to dream up unlikely situations in which the 'unacceptable' is possible.

However, emsr2 has given very sound advice. If you follow it, you will (almost) never produce an unacceptable utterance.

ps. I inserted '(almost)' before 'never' only because I have learnt from bitter experience that somebody will prove me wrong as soon as I use the unmodified words 'always' or 'never'.

 

[shannico]

I totally agree with emsr2d2. The use of would after wish implies that your wish depens on someone else or something else, i.e. that it is totally out of your control.

In your examples COULD would be acceptable though

I wish I [STRIKE]would [/STRIKE] could go home soon.(It appears that I won't go home soon) /


However, I think it is possible to use we could after I though in the examples you provided

Lets assume we are playing a cricket match. We need to score 40 runs in a over. In that position we can't win the match but I feel it will be nice if we win the match.

Let me just say that I don't really know much about how cricket works, however I think it would be more correct if you said
I say: I wish we [STRIKE]would [/STRIKE] could win the match.(We represents the entire team).



Hope this will help

 

[TheParser]

I wish we would win the match.

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


(1) Emsr, David, 5jj, and Shannico have given us great food for thought. May I add my two cents to this stimulating discussion?

(2) Yes, the "rule" seems to be clear: Don't say "I / we wish we would ....."

(i) Mr. Michael Swan in his wonderful Practical English Usage says that "I wish I would give up smoking" is wrong because it "is strange to wish for oneself to be willing."

(3) Nevertheless, as 5jj reminded us:

There are rules, and then there are native speakers.

(4) I have done some Web research, and it seems that there are native speakers who

find that "I wish we would ...." is not that horrible.

(5) I found a book written by Caroline B. Cooper in 2011. Its title is: The Vampire's Promise (I hear that vampires are very popular nowadays!). Here's a little bit of what it says:

"I hope we win," said Trey.
"I think we will," said William.
"I know we will," said Mrs. Cort.

Devnee's sentence would have begun with two words she was determined never to touch again: I wish we would win.

(6) And here are some other examples of "bad" English that I found:

(a) In 1775, when those American colonists were getting restless with English rule, a gentleman in the House of Lords said "I wish we would imitate their temper."

(b) An "expert" at another English helpline says the following is perfectly good

English: I wish we would have a rainy day tomorrow.

(P.S. I cannot explain why, but I think that there is a difference between "would have a rainy day" and "could have a rainy day," but I am not intelligent enough to explain the difference.)

(c) Finally, an article called "Be an Heir Rather Than a Servant" by Joyce Griffith has this line: I wish we would win the lottery." (Again, there does seem to be a difference between "would" and "could." But I am unable to articulate the difference.)

 

[shannico]

English: I wish we would have a rainy day tomorrow.

(P.S. I cannot explain why, but I think that there is a difference between "would have a rainy day" and "could have a rainy day," but I am not intelligent enough to explain the difference.)

(c) Finally, an article called "Be an Heir Rather Than a Servant" by Joyce Griffith has this line: I wish we would win the lottery." (Again, there does seem to be a difference between "would" and "could." But I am unable to articulate the difference.)

Great examples!
I'll try and have a go at both

(How)I wish we would have a rainy day tomorrow (rain does not depend on the speaker obviously)
(How) I wish we would win the lottery (nor does winning the lottery)

How I wish we could have a rainy tomorrow (it is more connected with the chance/possibility/opportunity of having a rainy day)

How I wish we could win the lottery (same as above only applied to lottery)

Does it help?

 

[TheParser]

Does it help?

Very much so. Thank you.

 

[shannico]

Thank YOU!!!
You always have the best and most interesting examples and explanations!!!
Shan

 

[emsr2d2]

English: I wish we would have a rainy day tomorrow. X
We express this with "I hope it rains tomorrow" or "I wish for a rainy day tomorrow."
We can say "I wish it would rain" but not follow it with "tomorrow".

(P.S. I cannot explain why, but I think that there is a difference between "would have a rainy day" and "could have a rainy day," but I am not intelligent enough to explain the difference.)

(c) Finally, an article called "Be an Heir Rather Than a Servant" by Joyce Griffith has this line: I wish we would win the lottery." (Again, there does seem to be a difference between "would" and "could." But I am unable to articulate the difference.)

Great examples!
I'll try and have a go at both

(How)I wish we would have a rainy day tomorrow (rain does not depend on the speaker obviously)
With "How" :tick:, without it, X
(How) I wish we would win the lottery (nor does winning the lottery) With "How", then :tick: Without it, X

How I wish we could have a rainy day tomorrow (it is more connected with the chance/possibility/opportunity of having a rainy day)

How I wish we could win the lottery (same as above only applied to lottery) :tick:

Does it help?

See above.

 

[ridvann]

Does it contain 'how I wish.... I would' too?

For example: How I wish I would win the lottery.

Thanks...

 

[bhaisahab]

Does it contain 'how I wish.... I would' too?

For example: How I wish I would win the lottery.

Thanks...

It's theoretically possible, but very unlikely.

 

[5jj]

It's theoretically possible, but very unlikely.

And that's a very good response to many of the questions that I suspect some people may be preparing to ask. At the risk of appearing even more tedious than usual, I'll repeat what I said earlier in this thread:

You will frequently hear native speakers using constructions that any grammar book or teacher will tell you are 'unacceptable'. Sometimes it is even possible to dream up unlikely situations in which the 'unacceptable' is possible.

However, emsr2 has given very sound advice [post #2]. If you follow it, you will (almost) never produce an unacceptable utterance.

 

[5jj]

However, emsr2 has given very sound advice [post #2]. If you follow it, you will (almost) never produce an unacceptable utterance.

Sorry, emsr2d2; I was a little over-familiar there - I dropped the final 'd2'.

 

[emsr2d2]

Sorry, emsr2d2; I was a little over-familiar there - I dropped the final 'd2'.

I wouldn't worry about it. I've been called worse!;-)