Wish

If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.

(pre-driverless car saying)

starter

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 leadingrole 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

entremets

"wish" can be followed by a noun phrase (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.

"wish" is not followed by an embedded clause in the simple present, present continuous, or the future. Instead use "hope" with the simple present or the future.

Main course

wish is often followed by an embedded clause in the simple past, the past continuous or the past perfect. It is very frequently associated with the remote modals could and would.