Wish clauses and hypothetical expressions allow us to talk about things we want to be different — situations that are contrary to reality. The verb tense shifts back in time relative to the reality being described, which is a key feature of this structure.
3 subtopics — pick one to start practising
Wish — Present & Future Situations
To express a wish about a present situation you want to change, use "wish + past simple". The past tense refers to the present or future, not the past. "I wish I knew the answer." (= I don't know the answer now.) "I wish she were here." (Note: "were" is preferred for all subjects in formal English, but "was" is common informally.)
Wish — Past Situations (Regrets)
To express a wish about a past situation — a regret — use "wish + past perfect". "I wish I had studied harder." (= I didn't study hard, and I regret it.) This is equivalent to the third conditional in meaning. The past perfect shifts back from the past simple to express that the regret is about something already completed.
Wish + Would — Annoying Situations
Use "wish + would + verb" to express irritation about a habit or situation you want someone else to change. "I wish you would stop interrupting me." This structure is always about someone else's behavior, never your own. It suggests the speaker is frustrated. You cannot say "I wish I would" — use "wish + could" for self-directed wishes.