English grammar
I wish you… (good wishes) vs I wish you'd / I had… (wanting things different)
Wish people well, and say what you wish were different.
From the scene I wish you both every happiness (I wish you both happiness)
In short
Wish + person + noun gives good wishes. Wish + you'd or a past form says you want things to be different.
Your turn
Which one goes with good wishes?
Options: she wishes us happiness · I wish you both every happiness · I wish you'd sit with me
Show answer
good wishes → she wishes us happiness
How it works
Wish + person + noun gives good wishes: I wish you both every happiness.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
She says: 'I wish (blank) sit with me.'
Options: you · you'd · you will
Show answer
She says: 'I wish you'd sit with me.'
Dice: «Ojalá te sentaras conmigo».
Good to know
Wish + would or a past form says you want something to be different — often a complaint: I wish you'd sit with me; she wishes she had grandkids already.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
I (blank) you both all the best too, with all my heart.
Options: want · wish · hope
Show answer
I wish you both all the best too, with all my heart.
Yo también os deseo que seáis felices, de corazón.
good wishes I wish you both every happiness
Elena
Tomás, I wish you both every happiness.
Tomás, os deseo que seáis muy felices.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Tomás, (blank).
Options: I wish you'd sit with me · I wish you both every happiness · She wishes us happiness
Show answer
Elena
Tomás, I wish you both every happiness.
Tomás, os deseo que seáis muy felices.
good wishes she wishes us happiness
Tomás
Oh boy... she says she wishes us happiness... and she wishes she had grandkids already!
Órale... dice que nos desea que seamos felices... ¡y que ojalá ya tuviera nietos!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Oh boy... she says (blank)... and she wishes she had grandkids already!
Options: I wish you both every happiness · I wish you'd sit with me · she wishes us happiness
Show answer
Tomás
Oh boy... she says she wishes us happiness... and she wishes she had grandkids already!
Órale... dice que nos desea que seamos felices... ¡y que ojalá ya tuviera nietos!
a complaint about someone I wish you'd sit with me
wanting things different now she wishes she had grandkids
Tomás
Oh boy... she says she wishes us happiness... and she wishes she had grandkids already!
Órale... dice que nos desea que seamos felices... ¡y que ojalá ya tuviera nietos!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Oh boy... she says she wishes us happiness... and (blank) already!
Options: I wish you both every happiness · I wish you'd sit with me · she wishes she had grandkids
Show answer
Tomás
Oh boy... she says she wishes us happiness... and she wishes she had grandkids already!
Órale... dice que nos desea que seamos felices... ¡y que ojalá ya tuviera nietos!
NOT a wish for the future I hope you'll be happy (not I wish you'll)
Common mistake
Not hope or want here. Verb + person + a good thing (a noun).
Tomás, I wish you both every happiness.
Tomás, os deseo que seáis muy felices.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| good wishes | I wish you both every happiness |
|---|---|
| good wishes | she wishes us happiness |
| a complaint about someone | I wish you'd sit with me |
| wanting things different now | she wishes she had grandkids |
| NOT a wish for the future | I hope you'll be happy (not I wish you'll) |
More lines from the story
- TomásShe says: 'I wish you'd sit with me.'Dice: «Ojalá te sentaras conmigo».
- NuriaI wish you both all the best too, with all my heart.Yo también os deseo que seáis felices, de corazón.
- Elena'I wish you'd'? That's not a wish, dear... it's a complaint!¿«Ojalá te sentaras»? Eso no es un deseo, cariño... ¡es una queja!
- TomásWell, my mum wishes I'd call more, visit more, eat more...Es que mi mamá desearía que llamara más, que la visitara más, que comiera más...