Regrets, Wishes and Hopes - Kenneth | Learn English at EnglishCafe

This post focuses on using the verbs 'wish' and 'hope', as well as conditional forms to discuss past, present and future desires. It explains the grammar by providing context, examples and specific grammar notes to help you use the forms correctly.

Past Wishes

Like most people, there are many things I wish I had done differently in the past. Of course, this desire doesn't really help me change my current situation. In fact, many people would argue that wishing takes the focus off what's important - the here and now. Still ... I'm a human being and it's just second nature to wish for things. Here's a list of some of my wishes:

I wish I had paid more attention to my teachers in middle school.

I wish my math teacher had interested me more in high school.

I wish I had continued exercising more vigorously during the 1980s and 1990s!

I wish I had learned Russian when I was in teaching ex-Soviet block immigrants in New York.

Because ....

If I had paid more attention to my teachers in middle school, I'd have done better in college.

If my math teacher had interested me more in high school, I would have taken courses like statistics that would be very helpful now.

If I had continued exercising more vigorously during the 1980s and 1990s, I'd have less of a middle-age paunch (fat stomach) now.

If I had learned Russian when I was in New York, I could enjoy reading Russian literature in the original.

Grammar Notes

Notice how the use of 'wish' when speaking about the past is followed by the past perfect (had + past participle). You can also express past wishes by using the conditional form with the 'if' clause in the past perfect and the result in either the perfect conditional ('would have done' -> for a past result), OR the result clause in the conditional ('would do' -> for a present result).

Present Wishes

What's the use of crying over spilt milk (idiom = worrying about what is past)? I guess it doesn't really help much, except it might help me focus on the present more. We all also have things that we'd like to change in the present. So what are some of my wishes for the present?

I wish I had more time for golf.

I wish I could spend more time with my dog, Frankie, on the beach.

I wish I played the piano more often than I do.

I wish my dog, Frankie, didn't bark so much at other dogs.

Because ...

If I had more time to play golf, my golf scores would be better.

If I could spend more time with Frankie, we'd both be in better shape.

If I played the piano more often, I'd be able to play some Rachmaninov.

If Frankie didn't bark so much at other dogs, he'd be a lot easier to handle.

Grammar Notes

Use 'wish' plus the past simple to express a wish about the present. This is similar to the second, or unreal, conditional because you are making a statement about what is not real at the moment.

Future Hopes

I imagine these are enough complaints and wishes about things that didn't happen in the past or don't happen in the present. What are some of my hopes for the future?

I hope to spend some time in Asia some day.

I hope to see my daughter happy whatever she decides to do.

I hope to hit a hole-in-one some day on the golf course.

I hope to retire in Italy.

Because ...

If I get to go to Asia, I'll visit people I have met online in person.

If I see my daughter happy, I'll go to my grave a content man.

If I hit a hole-in-one, I'll laugh my head off!

When I retire to Italy, I'll get a nice tan and eat wonderful pasta every day.

Grammar Notes

When speaking about the future, it is common to use the verb 'hope' + infinitive. You can also speak about the results of future hopes and desires by using the first conditional to express possible future results. Another possibility when speaking about the future is the use of a future time clause beginning with 'when'.