Pluperfect Progressive - Expressions of Wish

Expressions of Wish

Particular rules apply to the tenses and verb forms used after the verb wish and certain other expressions with similar meaning.

When the verb wish governs a finite clause, the past tense (simple past or past progressive as appropriate) is used when the desire expressed concerns a present state, the past perfect (or past perfect progressive) when it concerns a (usually counterfactual) past state or event, and the simple conditional with would when it concerns a desired present action or change of state. For example:

I wish you were here. (past tense for desired present state)

Do you wish you were playing in this match? (past progressive for present ongoing action)

I wish I had been in the room then. (past perfect for counterfactual past state)

I wish they had locked the door. (past perfect for counterfactual past action)

I wish you would shut up! (desired present action)

Do you wish it would rain? (desired present change of state)

The same forms are generally used independently of the tense or form of the verb wish:

I wished you were there. (past tense for desired state at the time of wishing)

The same rules apply after the expression if only:

If only he knew French!

If only I had looked in the bedroom!

If only they would stop talking!

In finite clauses after would rather and it's (high) time, the past tense is used:

I'd rather you came with me.

It's time they gave up.

After would rather the present subjunctive is also sometimes possible: I'd rather you/he come with me.

After all of the above expressions (though not normally it's (high) time) the past subjunctive were may be used instead of was:

I wish I were less tired.

If only he were a trained soldier.

Note that other syntactic patterns are possible with most of these expressions. The verb wish can be used with a to-infinitive or as an ordinary transitive verb (I wish to talk; I wish you good health). The expressions would rather and it's time can also be followed by a to-infinitive.

After the verb hope the above rules do not apply; instead the logically expected tense is used, except that often the present tense is used with future meaning:

I hope you get better soon.