1. Wishing for a Desired Change

2. Past modal + base form is used
after wish to show that a person
wants something different to
happen in the future.
It shows a desire for change.

3. Your book uses examples
with would:

4. My parents wish that I wouldn’t watch
so many science fiction movies.
They wish (that) I would study harder.
They wish (that) I would be more
serious about my education.

5. You can also use could in this kind of
sentence:
could + base form
means the same thing as
were able to:

6. I wish (that) I could travel to the past =
I wish (that) I were able to travel to the
past.
(But in reality, I can’t.)

7. I wish (that) I could fly=
I wish (that) I were able to fly.
(But in reality, I can’t.)