I wish he was there now vs I wish he were there now

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'I wish he was there now' is commonly used in informal speech, while 'I wish he were there now' is more formal and follows the subjunctive mood. The choice between 'was' and 'were' depends on the level of formality you want to convey.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 981 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in informal speech.

"I wish he was there now "

This phrase is used in informal contexts to express a wish about the present. 'Was' is the past tense of 'is', and in this case, it is used to convey the idea of wishing for something that is not true in the present.

Examples:

I wish he was here right now.
I wish she was more understanding.
I wish it was sunny today.

Show examples from the web [+]

I wish he were here now.
I wish he was here now instead of me.
Now I wish he was just wasting his money at the bicycle races.
I wish now to pay tribute to the fine work done by the Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities.
I wish now, however, to stress the importance of Galileo's later potential applications, especially in trans-European satellite-based broadband communication systems.
I wish now I had, 'cause old Sparky ran out in front of a Cadillac, and got splattered like a watermelon in one of them Gallagher shows.
Also tell her that I will do as I wish from now on.
I wish they review now there are some obstacles overcome.
I wish here and now to express my deepest disgust.
I would like to call at this point for the European Union itself to take the lead by good example, and I wish now to refer to two areas of current significance in which we can do something tangible, namely asylum policy and immigration policy.
I wish now to offer you my blessing, indeed, my encouragement, to speak to Katherine.
We all now wish he'd fall in a hole.
I wish you'd go now.
Two minutes I wish I had back now.
Now I wish I had never left home.
Now I wish I had never been part of it.
I wish you'd go now.
Now I wish I would've listened in science.
Now I wish you weren't here.
I wish it was right now.

Alternatives:

I wish he were there now
I wish he were here right now
I wish he were more understanding
I wish it were sunny today

This phrase is correct and follows the subjunctive mood, commonly used in formal contexts.

"I wish he were there now"

This phrase is used in more formal contexts to express a wish about the present. 'Were' is the subjunctive form of 'to be', and it is used to convey hypothetical or unreal situations.

Examples:

I wish he were here right now.
I wish she were more understanding.
I wish it were sunny today.

Show examples from the web [+]

I wish he were here now.
I wish he was here now instead of me.
Now I wish he was just wasting his money at the bicycle races.
I wish now to pay tribute to the fine work done by the Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities.
I wish now, however, to stress the importance of Galileo's later potential applications, especially in trans-European satellite-based broadband communication systems.
I wish now I had, 'cause old Sparky ran out in front of a Cadillac, and got splattered like a watermelon in one of them Gallagher shows.
Also tell her that I will do as I wish from now on.
I wish they review now there are some obstacles overcome.
I wish here and now to express my deepest disgust.
I would like to call at this point for the European Union itself to take the lead by good example, and I wish now to refer to two areas of current significance in which we can do something tangible, namely asylum policy and immigration policy.
I wish now to offer you my blessing, indeed, my encouragement, to speak to Katherine.
We all now wish he'd fall in a hole.
I wish you'd go now.
Two minutes I wish I had back now.
Now I wish I had never left home.
Now I wish I had never been part of it.
I wish you'd go now.
Now I wish I would've listened in science.
Now I wish you weren't here.
I wish it was right now.

Alternatives:

I wish he was there now
I wish he was here right now
I wish he was more understanding
I wish it was sunny today

How TextRanch works

Fast and reliable proofreading, editing, and language advice tailored to your needs.

1. Choose Your Service

Quick Text Editing

Emails and short texts
Proofreading & editing
Ready in 5-10 minutes

SUBMIT YOUR TEXT NOW

Document Editing

Documents of any type (*.docx)
Advanced & Premium editing
Ready in as little as 4 hours

UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENT

Ask an Editor

Personalized answers to your language questions
Expert guidance on grammar, style, and usage
Ready in 24 hours

ASK YOUR QUESTION

Upload your document or paste your text directly into our platform. Your text is reviewed and refined by our expert editors (real people, not machines) who understand the nuances of English. Expect corrections, improvements, and insightful suggestions that enhance the clarity, tone, and professionalism of your writing.

3. Receive Your Polished Text

In just a few minutes (or hours for longer documents), you'll receive your corrected text. Review the changes, make any final adjustments, and confidently share your polished English with the world.
You can count on a personalized, friendly service every time you use TextRanch. We're committed to helping you make a great impression with every word you write.

We proofread and edit these types of texts and documents:

Short texts Business Emails Personal Emails Social media posts Resume and Curriculum Vitae Business documents Sales proposal Research and academic papers Thesis Dissertation Essays Articles Blog posts and much more....

Our Customers Love Us!

We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283125 votes, and

4.9 Excellent - Reviews 2.137

"7 years without any disappointment. Always 100% satisfied. You guys are the best in the world at what you do. Thank you so much :)"

Zubair
from Bangladesh

"I wasn't aware of this service, it's fascinating and more reliable than standard IA tools available on the internet"

Arturo
from Mexico

"In a world of text messages and online communication, this is great to have as a live tool. Thank you."

Selena
from USA

"Wow, it's just so excellent. I never would have believed I could have a sure and excellent English companion. Thanks, TextRanch."

Ifiok
from Nigeria

"This is my first time using TextRanch, and I like how the editors take time to correct my text. To everyone who has never used TextRanch before, I highly recommend trying it."

Wilson
from France

"It is an amazing source of feedback because, as a non-native speaker, I really need to have a reliable helper correct my text."

Susan
from Germany

I wish he was there now vs I wish he were there now