Use wish plus subject plus would plus the base verb to complain about someone else’s annoying habit or a repeated situation, as in I wish you would stop shouting. This structure is not used for yourself or with state verbs, which take the past simple instead.
Grammar Rule
Wish + subject + would + base verb complains about someone else’s annoying habit or a repeated situation; it is not used for yourself or with state verbs.
Wish + Would: Rules and Examples
| Use | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint about others | wish + subject + would + base verb | I wish you would stop shouting. I wish it would stop raining. |
| Negative complaint | wish + subject + wouldn’t + base verb | I wish he wouldn’t interrupt me all the time. |
| Not used for yourself/state verbs | use past simple instead | I wish I were taller (not I wish I would be taller). |
Remember: wish + would for complaints about repeated behavior, not for yourself or state verbs.
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below using wish + would correctly to complain about habits. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
Wish and If Only – Would (Complaints)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you use wish + would to complain about a habit?
Use wish plus the subject plus would plus the base verb, as in I wish you would stop shouting.
Can you use wish + would about yourself?
No, this structure is used to complain about other people or situations, not about the speaker’s own actions.
Can you use wish + would with state verbs like know or be?
No, state verbs take the past simple instead, as in I wish I were taller, not I wish I would be taller.
How do you form a negative complaint with wish + would?
Use wish plus the subject plus wouldn’t plus the base verb, as in I wish he wouldn’t interrupt me all the time.