English Grammar
I Wish — Present Regrets
I wish + past simple (for a present situation)
Used to talk about present regrets — things you wish were different right now. The past form signals that the wish is unreal: what you're describing is the opposite of reality. "I wish I were taller." "I wish she knew the answer." In everyday spoken English, "I wish I was" is just as common as "I wish I were" — both are accepted, but textbooks only teach the formal "were" form.
Real Examples from Native Speakers
"I wish I was a baller."
Wishing I Was Taller, A Baller, And More
How it works
Formula
I wish + past simple (for a present situation)
This page combines the textbook rule with real-world English — every example is an unscripted clip from a real native speaker. You're hearing how this grammar point sounds in real life, not in a classroom.