Learn English – ‘I wish’ and counterfactual

auxiliary-verbsmodal-verbs

What's the difference between the following sentences?

(a) I wish they wouldn't make so much noise.
(b) I wish they were not making so much noise.

(c) I wish they did not make so much noise.

I'd appreciate your help.

Best Answer

Sentence (a) means that you wish they were willing not to make so much noise on some occasion or occasions not specified within the sentence.

Sentence (b) means that you wish that they were not right now making so much noise.

Sentence (c) means that you wish that it was not their habit to make so much noise on some occasion or occasions not specified within the sentence.

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