I wish I had worked harder vs I wish I worked harder

Both phrases are correct and commonly used in English. They express a desire for past actions to have been different. The choice between 'I wish I had worked harder' and 'I wish I worked harder' depends on the context and emphasis the speaker wants to convey.

Last updated: April 14, 2024 • 125 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express a desire for past actions to have been different.

"I wish I had worked harder"

This phrase is used when expressing regret about not putting in more effort in the past. It refers to a specific time in the past when the speaker wishes they had worked harder.

Examples:

I wish I had worked harder on my project last month.
She wishes she had worked harder in school when she had the chance.

Show examples from the web [+]

'I wish I had worked harder', makes sense as 'the wish' is definite so the verb cannot be in a conditional tense.
Feb 1, 2022 ... I wish I had worked harder in life, so I could use it to change people's stories. I could have worked harder. I am capable of working harder ...
I wish I had worked harder. In other words, wish + had done something, to convey regret. Are both correct, or is one actually more correct ...
I wish I had worked harder when I was at school. Mary wishes she had listened to what her mother told her. I wish I hadn't spent so much money last month.
Mar 7, 2019 ... I wish I had worked harder. This is the correct answer for the question. This is grammatically correct and make sense.
I wish I had worked harder in the earlier years, and had been more focused on classes.” – Dan L. “Explore. Take classes in stuff you are interested in and ...
Jun 22, 2018 ... Writing is one thing I feel really self-conscious about and I wish I had worked harder to keep it sharper, especially when I came to radio ...
Jun 14, 2022 ... One thing I wish I could change about my high school experience, I wish I had worked harder in some of my classes.
(with response options of “Yes, I wish I had worked harder” or “No, I worked hard enough.”) and “Do you ever wish that your spouse had worked harder to save ...
Jun 14, 2016 ... "I wish I had worked harder in my younger years." How did you end up at West Virginia State? "I was playing football at Chaffey Junior ...

Alternatives:

I wish I had put more effort into it.
I wish I had been more diligent.
I wish I had applied myself more.
I wish I had given it my all.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express a desire for current actions to be different.

"I wish I worked harder"

This phrase is used when expressing a wish for more effort or diligence in the present. It refers to a general desire to work harder in the current situation.

Examples:

I wish I worked harder on my fitness.
He wishes he worked harder on improving his skills.

Show examples from the web [+]

Jan 19, 2018 ... I wish I worked harder in high school. If there are any younger high schoolers reading this, don't do what I did.
Feb 26, 2019 ... ... accomplishing what I've wanted to accomplish so I only say I wish I worked harder so I can have personal satisfaction over a higher gpa.
I wish I worked harder to get better grades so I would've had more opportunities and choices. It seems crazy but I would do the math to figure out the ...
I wish I worked harder, saved a little...I am failing to save him. When the doctors confirmed his condition, Raja Ram ran pillar to post and started putting ...
Sep 12, 2018 ... Looking back, I wish I worked harder, I wish I did more. Today I have a mindset where if I fast forward 10 years in my life and look back on ...
I wish I worked harder in his class because its really worth the effort. He has a lot of knowledge to give you, and while sometimes it sounds like hes ...
When people are close to death, they don't look back on their lives thinking, “I wish I worked harder, made more money, and spent more time at the gym.

Alternatives:

I wish I put more effort into it.
I wish I was more diligent.
I wish I applied myself more.
I wish I gave it my all.

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I wish I had worked harder vs I wish I worked harder