Learn English – Is it correct to say: ‘I wish I would (not) do something!’

modal-verbswish-preterite

If the verb 'wish' and the verb that follows it do not have the same subjects, you can either say

I wish you didn't chew gum in class!

or

I wish you wouldn't chew gum in class!

if you want to emphasise the fact that the action you wish for depends on someone's good will.

Now, if the subjects of 'wish' and of the following verb are the same, can you still say

I wish I wouldn't chew gum in class!

?

Best Answer

That's a perfectly fine construction. Other more common examples of it include "I wish (that) I would set my alarm correctly", "I wish (that) I were better at waking up to my alarm", and "I wish (that) I had remembered to study for the exam".

Links to dictionaries with such a construction given as an example http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/wish