"I wish that I could see you"

Question

I'm having trouble translating this sentence. When I use the translator it gives me "Deseo que pude verte", which makes sense. However, I'm not sure why the verb "poder" has been put in the preterite form. I'm not sure what other tense to put it in but I don't understand why it's past tense, since it's not referring to something that has happened in the past. Could someone explain to me why it's in past tense and not a different sort of tense? Thanks

Hi Quincy, did you get both of my PM I sent to you , letme know otherwise i will need to check my outgoings. Thanks mate. - ray76, Oct 5, 2016

Answer 1

I think the translator is wrong. Specifically that past is being translated wrong it should be past subjunctive not preterit.

Personally I would say:

Ojalá pudiera verte. I wish that I were able to see you. This is past subjunctive being used to indicate a "hypothetical" desire. Ojalá is often used to express wishes, especially this type of hypothetical one.

If I were to use desear I would simply say: Deseo verte- I desire to see you, though I might be more likely to say quiero verte- I want to see you.

There may be other ways so wait for other answers.

¡Perfecto! - Daniela2041, Oct 4, 2016

Thanks, Daniela. :) - bosquederoble, Oct 4, 2016

Thanks! - Quincyhopper, Oct 5, 2016

De nada. :) - bosquederoble, Oct 5, 2016

Answer 2

The correct form is ojalá pudiera/pudiese verte.
I wish needs to be understood as ojalá, which is the desire for something to happen.
In this case, the implication is in present. Having the imperfect past subjunctive doesn't make it past, the meaning is in present.

• Ojalá pudiera/pudiese verte. (= pero no puedo)