I wish I have been there for the baby kicking for the first time?
Could I change the sentence to
I wish I was there for the baby kicking for the first time?
What are the differences between the two sentences?
Learn English – Using “wish” to express regret in the present and in the past
grammarirrealis-weremeaningpresent-perfectwish-preterite
Best Answer
Both sentences given are slightly incorrect, I’m afraid. I think the form you want is probably
(In speech or informal writing, this would often be contracted: “I wish I’d been there for…”) Also good, as Robusto said, is
although this only works if your absence was unintentional — if you knew when to expect it and just chose not to go, this version doesn’t apply.
The versions
are appropriate for an event happening right now, not for something that happened in the past. You might have a phone conversation: “The baby is kicking right now!” “Oh! I wish I were there for it!”
The form
isn’t correct for anything (although it’s a fairly common error among non-native speakers, and people wouldn’t have difficulty understanding it).