I wish I had...

Question

Hi,

I'm trying to figure out how one would say "I wish that..." when referring to something that one did not do in the past...such as "I wish that I had learned spanish when I was 5". First, the primary verb: would we use ojalá, desear, querer, or something else? Is more than one acceptable?

Then, the secondary verb: I'm thinking we would use the subjunctive, but would it be the past perfect subjunctive or imperfect subjunctive?

So, "I wish that I had learned spanish when I was five" : "Ojalá que hubiera aprendido español cuando tenía cinco años"?

Answer 1

Great question, Luke.

I only know how to say a few things with the words "I wish." The others I found in dictionaries. All use the subjunctive.

I wish I could go with you = Ojalá pudiera ir contigo.

I wish I were rich = ¡Ojalá fuera rico!

I wish I had seen it! = ¡Ojalá lo hubiera visto!

I wish I hadn't left so early = Ojalá no me hubiera marchado tan pronto.

I wish I were in Spain = Quisiera que estuviera en España.

Answer 2

I would say: Deseo que había aprendido español cuando tenía cinco años.

no, that's wrong

• Desearía haber aprendido español cuando tenía 5 años- sería correcto

I wish I were in Spain = Quisiera que estuviera en España. also wrong

Quisiera estar en España (or) me gustaría estar en España (present) quisiera haber estado en España (past)

Answer 3

Bumping this since I want to confirm my "desearía" approach. I went over it with the guys at work and they confirmed it a good way, at least in our area of Texas. Of course they may be wrong so I'd love to hear from natives.

Answer 4

I would say: Deseo que había aprendido español cuando tenía cinco años.

Answer 5

I'll throw out some guesses because it's late and I'm tired and my mind is tired so please don't select these as the right answer.

• Ojalá hubiera aprendido español cuando era niño. To say you wish you had learned it when you were five, it's pretty hard to learn an entire language in that year though you could start to learn it. Can you say "cuando tenía cinco años" in that sense? I don't know. Only a native or more advanced then me could answer that.
• Desearía haber aprendido a hablar español cuando era niño - this is how I would say it. Is it right? I don't know. It's how people say stuff around here. Or at least how it sounds to me, and it may be wrong. My two cents. I always make mistakes this late so I probably shouldn't answer but I don't want to forget this thread so this is how I am marking it. Again, please do not select these answers. Gracias.

Answer 6

espero que tenia - i thought?