I wish I would do v.s. I wish I did

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

I got this question:

Supposing I want to meet her again, which way would I express it:

  1. I wish I would meet her v.s. 2. I wish I met her

Also, supposing I regret that I did not meet her in the past, what would be the right choice?
3. I wish I had met her v.s. 4. I wish I would have met her

(I’m for 1 and 3)

Could you give me your piece of advice ?

Thanks !!

2

Hi.

I would use “I wish i would meet/see her again” . But also “I wish i could meet/see her again” (I actually prefer “see” rather than “meet”)
“I wish i met her” refers to the past - wishing you met somone at a particular time in the past. However, it doesn’t have to be a particular time - then you would use the past perfect tense (like in your second example)

With your second example i would use “I wish i had met her” , but you could also use the simple past tense. It all depends if you are speaking about a particular time in the past.

EG. I wish I met her yesterday.
I wish i had met her before she left for Europe.

Wait for some better responses… others might be able to explain better than me… But i hope it helps for now.
:slight_smile:

3

I’ll go for 1 and 3 as well. :lol:

“I wish I would meet her.” expresses your willingness to meet someone.
“I wish I met her.” expresses an unreal present, only a regret.

“I wish I had met her.” expresses your regret that you didn’t meet her. You did want to meet her in the past, but you didnt meet her. :smiley:

“I wish I would have met her.”…I’ve never learn this phrase. Could you help explain me what it means? :?:

4
  1. expresses your wish that something happened in the future; however, it also conveys a feeling that the odds are against you. As in “I wish this maddening rain would stop!” You cannot control it, yet you wish it stopped raining.
  2. is a simple expression of wish. It might or it might not come true. One could call it ‘neutral’. And the form “met” does not refer to the past; it refers to the future. It is in fact a subjunctive present which unfortunately ressembles past tense simple.
  3. is the correct form to express regret about something that occurred / did not occur in the past.
  4. can’t explain this one. sorry

And yes, I would go for 1 and 3, too.

5

1.Supposing I want to meet her again, which way would I express it:
[color=darkred]“I wish I would meet her.” sounds OK yet if you do want to see her again maybe “I [color=green]hope I [color=green]can meet her.”

Wish is usually followed by subjunctive. :

I wish I knew how to quit you. (Brokeback Mountain)
I wish I knew the answer. (I don’t know it but I wish I did.)
I hope I you know the answer. (I do hope you know it.)

2.Supposing I regret that I did not meet her in the past, what would be the right choice?
I’m with you on #3.