Unreal Time-Wish Clauses: Summary Comparison

Unreal time-wish clauses are used to express hypothetical or imagined situations in the past, present, or future, often involving wishes, regrets, or unreal conditions. These clauses typically utilize specific verb forms to reflect the unreal nature of the situation. The most common structures include:

1. Past Unreal (Wishes about the past):
   This structure refers to situations that did not happen in the past, often expressing regret. The formula is typically "wish + past perfect".
   Example: I wish I had studied harder for the exam.
   This sentence expresses a regret about a past action, implying that the speaker did not study as much as they should have.

2. Present Unreal (Wishes about the present):
   This structure is used to talk about situations in the present that are not true or are unlikely to happen. The formula is "wish + past simple."
   Example: I wish I knew the answer to this question.
   Here, the speaker is expressing a hypothetical wish about the present, implying that they do not know the answer at the moment.

3. Future Unreal (Wishes about the future):
   This structure is used to express wishes or hypothetical scenarios about the future. The formula often combines "wish + would" or "wish + could."
   Example: I wish she would arrive on time for the meeting.
   In this case, the speaker is wishing for something that could potentially happen in the future, but it is uncertain whether it will occur.