Common Errors - Wish

wish

verb

1

BAD: I wish you have a wonderful holiday.

GOOD: I hope you have a wonderful holiday.

BAD: I wish you will enjoy your stay here.

GOOD: I hope you will enjoy your stay here.

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Use wish that  (+ past/past perfect tense) for things that cannot happen or will probably not happen: 'I wish I hadn't told them my address.' 'I wish you could stay here longer.' (= this will probably not happen)

Use hope that  (+ present/present perfect tense) for things that may easily happen or may easily have happened: 'I hope you've had a successful trip.' 'We hope you all have a very merry Christmas.'

When wish is used for this meaning, the object is a noun phrase (NOT a that clause): 'I wish you a safe journey.' 'We'd like to wish you all a very merry Christmas.' 

2

DUBIOUS: I wish to send you a wedding present.

GOOD: I'd like to send you a wedding present.

DUBIOUS: I wish to stay until the end of July but I can't.

GOOD: I'd like to stay until the end of July but I can't. 

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When you tell someone what you want (to do), or ask someone what they want (to do), use would like  or (especially in informal styles) want : 'I'd like to buy a few postcards.' 'What would you like to do tonight?'

Wish is used with this meaning only in formal styles: 'We wish to apologize for the late arrival of this train.' 

3

BAD: I wish that they will stop killing each other.

GOOD: I wish that they would stop killing each other.

BAD: He wishes he can drive a car; taxis are so expensive.

GOOD: He wishes he could drive a car; taxis are so expensive.

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When you are thinking about the present or the future, use wish (that) + would /could/had  etc. (NOT will/can/have etc.) 'I wish I knew his telephone number.' 'I wish I didn't have to go to school tomorrow.'