I thought I understood the wish clauses but I have just found this example:
Situation: It isn’t raining.
Your wish: I wish it would rain.
Isn't this the situation where I should use the past tense, as this is contrafactual? I have seen many examples with the opposite situation:
It is raining. I wish it was not raining.
Why does the first example then use "would"?
Why not
"I wish it was raining"?
EDIT: However, I have also found this sentence in various sources, so I assume it is correct too. But would appreciate some insight from native speakers.
Best Answer
If you have seen many examples of this then they are all wrong.
It is raining. I wish it wasn't raining.
It rains [every day in Manchester]. I wish it didn't rain [in Manchester]. (You are wishing that it never rained in Manchester - you want Manchester to be like the Sahara Desert)
Your wish: I wish it would rain. (It is not raining - you want it to start raining in the near future)
Your wish: I wish it was raining. (It is not raining - you wish that it was already raining as you speak)