Difference between revisions of "Wish"
(→Main course) |
(→Main course) |
||
| (24 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
==Appetizer== | ==Appetizer== | ||
| − | <div style="background-color:#333;padding:50px 0px | + | |
| − | + | <div style="column-count:3;background-color:#333;padding:50px 0px 0px 0px;text-align:center;"> | |
| − | + | <p style="color:#A47;">So, so you think you can tell<br /> | |
| − | <p style=" | ||
Heaven from hell?<br /> | Heaven from hell?<br /> | ||
Blue skies from pain?<br /> | Blue skies from pain?<br /> | ||
| Line 16: | Line 15: | ||
From a cold steel rail?<br /> | From a cold steel rail?<br /> | ||
A smile from a veil?<br /> | A smile from a veil?<br /> | ||
| − | Do you think you can tell?<br /></p> | + | Do you think you can tell?<br /><br /><br /></p> |
| − | <p style=" | + | <p style="color:#A74;">Did they get you to trade<br /> |
Your heroes for ghosts?<br /> | Your heroes for ghosts?<br /> | ||
Hot ashes for trees?<br /> | Hot ashes for trees?<br /> | ||
| Line 25: | Line 24: | ||
Did you exchange<br /> | Did you exchange<br /> | ||
A walk-on part in the war<br /> | A walk-on part in the war<br /> | ||
| − | For a leading role in a cage<br /></p> | + | For a leading role in a cage<br /><br /></p> |
| − | <p style=" | + | <p style="color:#47A;">How I <i>wish</i>, how I <i>wish</i> you were here<br /> |
We're just two lost souls<br /> | We're just two lost souls<br /> | ||
Swimming in a fish bowl<br /> | Swimming in a fish bowl<br /> | ||
| Line 35: | Line 34: | ||
The same old fears<br /> | The same old fears<br /> | ||
''Wish'' you were here</p> | ''Wish'' you were here</p> | ||
| − | + | </div> | |
| − | </ | + | <div style="background-color:#333;padding:25px 0px 20px 0px;text-align:center;"> |
| + | <html5media>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXdNnw99-Ic</html5media> | ||
| + | </div> | ||
==Starter== | ==Starter== | ||
| − | #<span style="color:#026;font-weight:bold;">wish</span> can be followed by | + | #<span style="color:#026;font-weight:bold;">wish</span> can be followed by arguments (benefactor (who the wishes are for), theme of the wish, ...) <span style="font-size:80%;">(and by words from a few other classes: an occasional particle, resultative adjective, ... )</span> |
#*We wish you the best of luck. | #*We wish you the best of luck. | ||
#*She wished me a merry Christmas. | #*She wished me a merry Christmas. | ||
#*We wished each other well and moved on. | #*We wished each other well and moved on. | ||
| − | #*You can't really wish away | + | #*You can't really wish away age. |
| − | #<span style="color:#026;font-weight:bold;">wish</span> is '''''not''''' followed by | + | #<span style="color:#026;font-weight:bold;">wish</span> is '''''not''''' followed by a full sentence in the simple present, present continuous, or the future. |
#''Instead'', use <span style="color:#052;">hope</span> with the simple present or the future. | #''Instead'', use <span style="color:#052;">hope</span> with the simple present or the future. | ||
#*I hope you don't mind if I leave a bit early. | #*I hope you don't mind if I leave a bit early. | ||
| Line 54: | Line 55: | ||
==Main course== | ==Main course== | ||
| − | #<span style="color:#026;font-weight:bold;">wish</span> is often followed by | + | #<span style="color:#026;font-weight:bold;">wish</span> is often followed by a full sentence in the <span style="font-variant:small-caps;font-size:80%:font-weight:bold;color:#063;">simple past</span> or the <span style="font-variant:small-caps;font-size:80%:font-weight:bold;color:#063;">past continuous</span> to express regrets about the '''present''' or (im)possible '''futures'''. |
#*I wish I knew when the delivery would be here. | #*I wish I knew when the delivery would be here. | ||
#*I wish he had a cell-phone. | #*I wish he had a cell-phone. | ||
| − | #*Don't you wish you were queen/king of the planet? | + | #*Don't you wish you were queen/king of the planet? |
| − | #*They're going to Martinique. I kind of wish I were going with them. <span style="font-size:80%;">(''was'' is probably more frequent than ''were'')</span> | + | #*They're going to Martinique. I kind of wish I were going with them. <span style="font-size:80%;color:#777;">(''was'' is probably more frequent than ''were'')</span> |
| − | #If the | + | #If the following sentence is in the <span style="font-variant:small-caps;font-size:80%:font-weight:bold;color:#063;">past perfect</span>, it expresses regrets about the '''past'''. |
#*I wish I had known we were supposed to bring cake. | #*I wish I had known we were supposed to bring cake. | ||
#*I bet you wish you had brought cake. | #*I bet you wish you had brought cake. | ||
| Line 66: | Line 67: | ||
#The remote modals [[could]] and [[would]] are very often used with <span style="color:#026;font-weight:bold;">wish</span>: | #The remote modals [[could]] and [[would]] are very often used with <span style="color:#026;font-weight:bold;">wish</span>: | ||
#*They wished they <i>could afford</i> better equipment. | #*They wished they <i>could afford</i> better equipment. | ||
| − | #*I wish the neighbors <i>couldn't see</i> into our back yard. | + | #*I wish the neighbors <i>couldn't see</i> into our back yard. |
| − | #*He wished the cat <i>would stop peeing</i> in her shoes every time she stayed over. It really | + | #*He wished the cat <i>would stop peeing</i> in her shoes every time she stayed over. It really wasn't very nice. |
#*I wish you <i>wouldn't</i> always <i>leave</i> your laptop on the dining room table. <span style="font-size:80%">(lockdown blues)</span> | #*I wish you <i>wouldn't</i> always <i>leave</i> your laptop on the dining room table. <span style="font-size:80%">(lockdown blues)</span> | ||
#*I wish you <i>wouldn't have done</i> that. | #*I wish you <i>wouldn't have done</i> that. | ||
==Dessert== | ==Dessert== | ||
| + | |||
| + | <span style="font-size:80%;color:indigo;">'''note''': lyrics are for the version in the bottom right corner. The differences are fairly minor, but fun.</span> | ||
<div style="background-color:#333;column-count:3;padding:30px 0px 30px 20px;"> | <div style="background-color:#333;column-count:3;padding:30px 0px 30px 20px;"> | ||
<html5media>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CglhQzAIOvE</html5media> | <html5media>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CglhQzAIOvE</html5media> | ||
<p style="color:#A74;">'Dear God, you made many, many poor people.<br /> | <p style="color:#A74;">'Dear God, you made many, many poor people.<br /> | ||
| − | I realize, of course, that it's no shame to be poor.<br /> | + | I realize, of course, (that) it's no shame to be poor.<br /> |
But it's no great honor either!<br /> | But it's no great honor either!<br /> | ||
So, what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?'<br /><br /> | So, what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?'<br /><br /> | ||
| Line 94: | Line 97: | ||
And one more leading nowhere, just for show.<br /><br /> | And one more leading nowhere, just for show.<br /><br /> | ||
I'd fill my yard with chicks and turkeys and geese and ducks<br /> | I'd fill my yard with chicks and turkeys and geese and ducks<br /> | ||
| − | For the town to see and hear.<br /> | + | For the town to see and hear<br /> |
| + | Squawking just as noisily as they can.<br /> | ||
And each loud 'cheep' and 'swawk' and 'honk' and 'quack'<br /> | And each loud 'cheep' and 'swawk' and 'honk' and 'quack'<br /> | ||
Would land like a trumpet on the ear,<br /> | Would land like a trumpet on the ear,<br /> | ||
| Line 131: | Line 135: | ||
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.<br /> | Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.<br /> | ||
If I were a biddy biddy rich,<br /> | If I were a biddy biddy rich,<br /> | ||
| − | Yidle-diddle-didle-didle man.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> | + | Yidle-diddle-didle-didle man.<br /><br /> |
| + | Lord who made the lion and the lamb,<br /> | ||
| + | You declared I should be what I am.<br /> | ||
| + | would it spoil some vast eternal plan<br /> | ||
| + | If I were a wealthy man?</p> | ||
<html5media>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBHZFYpQ6nc</html5media> | <html5media>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBHZFYpQ6nc</html5media> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| Line 146: | Line 154: | ||
*I wish they would <span style="color:#666;">[ quiet down / call back / move out ] </span>! (<span style="font-variant:small-caps;font-size:85%;font-weight:bold;color:#047;">event</span>) | *I wish they would <span style="color:#666;">[ quiet down / call back / move out ] </span>! (<span style="font-variant:small-caps;font-size:85%;font-weight:bold;color:#047;">event</span>) | ||
| − | Keep in mind that "would" is very often used to describe series of | + | Keep in mind that "would" is very often used to describe a series of events. |
| − | *I remember that there would always be fish at the school canteen on Fridays at my middle school. | + | *I remember that there ''would'' always ''be'' fish at the school canteen on Fridays at my middle school. |
| − | *As | + | *I wish people ''wouldn't be'' so inconsiderate. |
| + | *As Auntie Jay ''would'' always ''say'', "If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride." | ||
So, there is a slight nuance between temporary, but repeated <span style="font-variant:small-caps;font-size:85%;font-weight:bold;color:#047;">states</span> and permanent <span style="font-variant:small-caps;font-size:85%;font-weight:bold;color:#047;">states</span>: | So, there is a slight nuance between temporary, but repeated <span style="font-variant:small-caps;font-size:85%;font-weight:bold;color:#047;">states</span> and permanent <span style="font-variant:small-caps;font-size:85%;font-weight:bold;color:#047;">states</span>: | ||
| − | *I wish you wouldn't be so bossy all the time. | + | *I wish you ''wouldn't be'' so bossy all the time. |
| − | *I wish you weren't so bossy all the time. | + | *I wish you ''weren't'' so bossy all the time. |
Both are correct. | Both are correct. | ||
| Line 159: | Line 168: | ||
*<s style="color:#777;">I wish he wouldn't still believe in Santa Claus.</s> | *<s style="color:#777;">I wish he wouldn't still believe in Santa Claus.</s> | ||
*I wish he didn't still believe in Santa claus. <span style="font-size:70%;">(He's 40 years old!)</span> | *I wish he didn't still believe in Santa claus. <span style="font-size:70%;">(He's 40 years old!)</span> | ||
| − | *I wish she would believe me <span style="color:#777;">('''if''' I said that)</span>. | + | *I wish she would believe me <span style="color:#777;">('''if''' I said that) / ('''when''' I told her things)</span>. |
| − | *I wish she believed me <span style="color:#777;">('''when''' I | + | *I wish she believed me <s style="color:#777;">('''if''' I said that)</s> <span style="color:#777;">/ ('''when''' I told her things)</span>. |
Latest revision as of 22:16, 4 May 2021
If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.
(a pre-driverless-drone dictum)
Appetizer
So, so you think you can tell
Heaven from hell?
Blue skies from pain?
Can you tell a green field
From a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?
Did they get you to trade
Your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
Did you exchange
A walk-on part in the war
For a leading role in a cage
How I wish, how I wish you were here
We're just two lost souls
Swimming in a fish bowl
Year after year
Running over the same old ground
What have we found?
The same old fears
Wish you were here
Starter
- wish can be followed by arguments (benefactor (who the wishes are for), theme of the wish, ...) (and by words from a few other classes: an occasional particle, resultative adjective, ... )
- We wish you the best of luck.
- She wished me a merry Christmas.
- We wished each other well and moved on.
- You can't really wish away age.
- wish is not followed by a full sentence in the simple present, present continuous, or the future.
- Instead, use hope with the simple present or the future.
- I hope you don't mind if I leave a bit early.
- I hope you can make it on Saturday.
- I hope it won't break.
- I hope the movie will be good.
Main course
- wish is often followed by a full sentence in the simple past or the past continuous to express regrets about the present or (im)possible futures.
- I wish I knew when the delivery would be here.
- I wish he had a cell-phone.
- Don't you wish you were queen/king of the planet?
- They're going to Martinique. I kind of wish I were going with them. (was is probably more frequent than were)
- If the following sentence is in the past perfect, it expresses regrets about the past.
- I wish I had known we were supposed to bring cake.
- I bet you wish you had brought cake.
- Yep, I wish I had been paying attention when Dr. Organizer was telling us who should bring what.
- I wish you hadn't done that.
- The remote modals could and would are very often used with wish:
- They wished they could afford better equipment.
- I wish the neighbors couldn't see into our back yard.
- He wished the cat would stop peeing in her shoes every time she stayed over. It really wasn't very nice.
- I wish you wouldn't always leave your laptop on the dining room table. (lockdown blues)
- I wish you wouldn't have done that.
Dessert
note: lyrics are for the version in the bottom right corner. The differences are fairly minor, but fun.
'Dear God, you made many, many poor people.
I realize, of course, (that) it's no shame to be poor.
But it's no great honor either!
So, what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?'
If I were a rich man,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy man.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle man.
I'd build a big tall house with rooms by the dozen,
Right in the middle of the town.
A fine tin roof with real wooden floors below.
There would be one long staircase just going up,
And one even longer coming down,
And one more leading nowhere, just for show.
I'd fill my yard with chicks and turkeys and geese and ducks
For the town to see and hear
Squawking just as noisily as they can.
And each loud 'cheep' and 'swawk' and 'honk' and 'quack'
Would land like a trumpet on the ear,
As if to say 'Here lives a wealthy man.'
If I were a rich man,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy man. I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle man.
I see my wife, my Golde, looking like a rich man's wife
With a proper double-chin.
Supervising meals to her heart's delight.
I see her putting on airs and strutting like a peacock.
Oy, what a happy mood she's in.
Screaming at the servants, day and night.
The most important men in town would come to fawn on me!
They would ask me to advise them,
Like a Solomon the Wise.
'If you please, Reb Tevye...'
'Pardon me, Reb Tevye...'
Posing problems that would cross a rabbi's eyes!
And it won't make one bit of difference if i answer right or wrong.
When you're rich, they think you really know!
If I were rich, I'd have the time that I lack
To sit in the synagogue and pray.
And maybe have a seat by the Eastern wall.
And I'd discuss the holy books with the learned men, several hours every day.
That would be the sweetest thing of all.
If I were a rich man,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy man.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle man.
Lord who made the lion and the lamb,
You declared I should be what I am.
would it spoil some vast eternal plan
If I were a wealthy man?
Coffee / Brandy
The choice between the past modal would and the past tense to express irréalis is generally based on the verb type:
- with verbs describing events would is used
- verbs describing states are generally in the past tense.
- I wish the phone would stop ringing.
- I wish I didn't have a phone.
- Don't you wish you had a phone?
- I wish they [ understood / knew / cared ]. (state)
- I wish they would get [ (back) here / lost / started ] already ! (event)
- I wish they would [ quiet down / call back / move out ] ! (event)
Keep in mind that "would" is very often used to describe a series of events.
- I remember that there would always be fish at the school canteen on Fridays at my middle school.
- I wish people wouldn't be so inconsiderate.
- As Auntie Jay would always say, "If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride."
So, there is a slight nuance between temporary, but repeated states and permanent states:
- I wish you wouldn't be so bossy all the time.
- I wish you weren't so bossy all the time.
Both are correct.
This is not always possible with other state (either-or) verbs.
I wish they wouldn't [ have / know ] my mobile number.- I wish they didn't [ have / know ] my mobile number.
I wish he wouldn't still believe in Santa Claus.- I wish he didn't still believe in Santa claus. (He's 40 years old!)
- I wish she would believe me (if I said that) / (when I told her things).
- I wish she believed me
(if I said that)/ (when I told her things).
