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    Another example/wish

    Cours gratuits > Forum > English only || Bottom

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    Another example/wish
    Message from ivonne_k2003 posted on 04-10-2011 at 23:12:27 (D | E | F)
    Hello,

    And another example:
    "You can hear a baby crying and you're trying to study. You say..."

    1. I wish the baby wouldn't cry.
    2. I wish the baby wasn't crying.
    3. If only the baby stopped crying.
    4. I wish the baby wouldn't be crying.
    5. I wish the baby would stop crying.

    Thanks for your help, Ivonne

    -------------------
    Edited by lucile83 on 05-10-2011 07:11


    Re: Another example/wish from stammer, posted on 04-10-2011 at 23:16:54 (D | E)
    Hello,

    Completely ungrammatical opinion alert:
    I am obviously missing something here, I take it that this is a was/were debate?

    To me the third sentence would be better if it were (or was...) "If only the baby were to stop crying". The fourth sentence just sounds a little unatural.
    I am sure that someone who actually knows anything about grammar will be able to better explain this/correct me, but I thought that I may as well put my thoughts into the mix.

    Edit: Wouldn't it be better if it were "I wish that the..." than "I wish the..." (in this context)?

    -------------------
    Edited by stammer on 04-10-2011 23:36

    -------------------
    Edited by lucile83 on 05-10-2011 07:12



    Re: Another example/wish from ivonne_k2003, posted on 04-10-2011 at 23:25:49 (D | E)
    Thanks a lot for the opinion. What about the other options (1,2) - are they correct?




    Re: Another example/wish from notrepere, posted on 04-10-2011 at 23:53:21 (D | E)
    Hello

    In this context, it is best to use wish + would to express impatience or annoyance about a present situation:

    I wish they would stop smoking.
    I wish the baby would be quiet.
    I wish it would stop raining.

    Therefore, I'd say:

    I wish the baby would stop crying.
    If only the baby would stop crying.



    Re: Another example/wish from ivonne_k2003, posted on 04-10-2011 at 23:59:53 (D | E)
    Nice to read it notrepere because these were the forms which I chose as 'the best'. Yes, I thought about the aspect of 'getting on my nerves' and impatience.

    Thanks a lot,
    Ivonne

    -------------------
    Edited by lucile83 on 05-10-2011 07:13




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