Subjunctive: 'I wish I were...'

The word wish acts like a little time machine. It pushes the verb that follows one step back into the past. This is called "backshifting." If you want something changed right now, you use the past tense. It feels strange at first. It is like wearing shoes on the wrong feet. But once you get it, your English sounds much more sophisticated. The most important part is the verb to be. In the subjunctive, we use were for everyone. I were, he were, she were, it were. We do this even for singular people. It signals to the listener: "Hey, this isn't real!" It creates a distance between your words and the truth. If you say I am rich, that is a fact. If you say I wish I were rich, you are telling me your bank account is empty. The were is the secret code for "this is just a dream."

1. 1Building this structure is quite simple once you see the steps.
2. 2Start with your subject: I, You, She, or They.
3. 3Add the verb wish in the correct tense.
4. 4Add the person you are wishing for (the second subject).
5. 5Use the past simple form of the action verb.
6. 6For the verb to be, always use were for all subjects.
7. 7Optional: You can add that after wish, but most people skip it.
8. 8Example: I + wish + (that) + I + were + taller.
9. 9Example: She + wishes + she + were + here.

Use this when you are unhappy with the current truth. Imagine you are at a very boring office party. You might whisper to a friend, "I wish I were at home in bed." You are clearly not at home. You are near a bowl of lukewarm punch. Use it in job interviews to show ambition. "I wish I were more fluent in Mandarin, so I am taking classes." Use it when ordering food if you have regrets. "I wish this pizza were larger!" It works for impossible dreams too. "I wish I were a billionaire living on Mars." It is perfect for social situations where you want to be polite. "I wish I were able to help you move, but I have a meeting." It softens the blow of a "no."

Do not use this for things that might actually happen soon. If you are waiting for a bus, don't say "I wish it were here." Use hope for things that are still possible. "I hope the bus comes soon." Wish is for the "impossible" or "unlikely" pile. Also, don't use it for simple facts. If you are 30 years old, don't say "I wish I am 30." That makes no sense! You already are. Don't use were when you are talking about a real past possibility. If you are wondering if you were sick yesterday, use the indicative. "I wonder if I was sick." The subjunctive is only for the "unreal."

The biggest trap is using was instead of were. "I wish I was rich" is very common in movies and songs. In a formal essay or a high-level meeting, use were. It shows you know the deep rules of the language. Another mistake is using the present tense after wish. "I wish I am happy" is a grammar red flag. It sounds very unnatural to a native ear. Always step back into the past tense. Also, don't forget the s on wishes. "He wish he were" is a common slip-up. Keep your subjects and verbs in sync! Think of it like a dance; if one person misses a step, the whole thing looks messy.

Let's compare I wish I were with I wish I had been. The first one is for right now. The second one is for a regret about the past. "I wish I were at the party" means the party is happening now. "I wish I had been at the party" means the party ended last night. You missed it. Now compare it to If I were you. This is for giving advice. It uses the same subjunctive were. Both patterns create a hypothetical world. One expresses a desire, the other expresses a suggestion. Finally, look at I wish I would. We use would when we are annoyed by someone else's behavior. "I wish you would stop whistling!" Use were for states of being, and would for actions you want to change.