Learn English – I wish time would stop now or I wish time stopped now

subjunctiveswish

Which one is correct? And if there are problems, what they are and why?

I wish time would stop now.

I wish time stopped now.

or

I wish the bus stopped here.

I wish the bus would stop here.

Best Answer

First things first:

"I wish the bus would have stopped here." (This is not grammatically correct in English although it occurs about as frequently as the use of "was" as the past subjunctive of "to be" when "were" is the correct form.)

It should read:

"I wish the bus had stopped here." ("had stopped" is the past perfect subjunctive.)

Now for the rest:

"I wish the bus would stop here." ("would" replaces the present subjunctive herein: "It is my wish that the bus stop here." Because if the bus [should] stop here, it will cut time off my trip.)

"I wish the bus stopped here." ("stopped" is the past subjunctive of "to stop" herein: "It is my wish that the bus stopped here." Because if the bus stopped here, it would cut time off my trip.)

Both examples are relatively close to the same meaning; however, the first example ("would stop") is used when I want it to happen or insist that it happen and it's possible that it may happen one day, whereas the second one is my stating a simple wish that does not happen now and I know probably either cannot or will not ever happen. "I wish the bus stopped here (but I am pretty sure that it never will stop here)."

"I wish you would just have a good time." (You aren't having a good time and it's ruining my vacation!)

"I wish you had a good time [playing sports]." (You do not have a good time doing whatever, but I wish it were not so.)

"I wish you would be quiet." (Shut your mouth! Your ruining everything!)

"I wish you were quiet." (It's impossible for you to shut your mouth, but hey, I can wish, can't I?)

Other exemplars:

"I wish Mr. Smith taught English." (I know that Mr. Smith will probably never teach English, but hey, I can wish!)

"I wish Mr. Smith would teach English." (I just want Mr. Smith to teach English and I know he could teach it if he wanted to.)

"I wish Mr. Smith had taught English [when I was in school]." (Mr. Smith didn't teach English when I was in school, but I wish (now) that (back then) he had taught it.)

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