[Grammar] Wish

[beachboy]

I'd like to know the difference between:
a) I wish my father drove me to the university in the morning.
b) I wish my father would drive me to the university in the morning.
Thanks, in advance.

 

[Skrej]

The meaning is the same.

I'm more likely to use the first after someone tells me how their father drives them to school every day. I'm more likely to use the second as an open expression of my desires.

However, that's not an ironclad rule - I could just as correctly reverse the sentences for those two situations.

 

[beachboy]

What about:
a) I wish I lived in Miami.
b) I wish I could live in Miami.
c) I wish I moved to Miami.
d) I wish I could move to Miami.
As far as I'm concerned, letter c is wrong, but I wouldn't be able to explain why...
Thanks again.

 

[Tarheel]

What about:
a) I wish I lived in Miami. YES
b) I wish I could live in Miami. YES
c) I wish I moved to Miami. NO
d) I wish I could move to Miami. YES
As far as I'm concerned, letter c is wrong, but I wouldn't be able to explain why...
.

See my opinions above. I can't explain my opinions, but I can tell you what they are. (I have read the glossary entry about conditionals a couple of times and can't remember any of it.)

 

[beachboy]

Yes, Tarheel, I totally agree! But I can't explain.... I would say it's because the act of moving doesn't take long, at least comparing to the act of living...

 

[Raymott]

"I wish I moved to Miami when I had the chance." (Some might say that the past perfect is necessary here.)

 

[jutfrank]

The explanantion of why c) is wrong is that the verb move to Miami refers to a single action. Therefore, you cannot use it in this kind of past simple sentence, which suggests a hypothetical, alternative state of affairs.

If you want to talk about hypothetical specific actions in the past, then use past perfect:

I wish I had moved to Miami when I had the chance.

Sentence a) I might correct to in the mornings to make it clear that it means every morning, not tomorrow morning.

The would in sentence b) suggests there's a refusal to act (or lack of volition) on my father's part.

 

[beachboy]

When I say "I wish my friend Bob would come to class tomorrow", could it mean that:

a) He refuses to come to class tomorrow?
b) I know that, for a certain reason, he won't come to class tomorrow?
c) For a certain reason, he probably won't come to class tomorrow?

 

[Barb_D]

When I say "I wish my friend Bob would come to class tomorrow", could it mean that:

a) He refuses to come to class tomorrow?
b) I know that, for a certain reason, he won't come to class tomorrow?
c) For a certain reason, he probably won't come to class tomorrow?

Since b includes a (the certain reason is his refusal) then b works.

If you are in the area of "probably" then use "I hope."

I hope Bob comes tomorrow. I hope Bob will come tomorrow. (Either is fine.)