I wish he would

有时候是有区别的。在 I wish (that) 句型里, 过去时形式所表示的时间通常是指现在时间。I wish it rained. 表达的往往是一个与现在事实相反的愿望, 即现在没有下雨而希望现在下雨, 可以译为“现在要是下雨可就好了。”类例:

1. I wish (that) I were tall. I am short. (IME) 我要是个高个子该多好。我个子很矮。

2. I wish that it were raining now. [It is not raining now.] (IME) 要是现在正在下雨就好了。

3. I wish she were not married. (CGEL) 但愿她没结婚。

4. I wish I didn't have to work for a living. (LEG) 但愿我不是为了谋生而必须工作。

而 I wish it would rain. 表达的则通常是将来很难实现的愿望或与预料的将来情况相反的愿望, 可以译为“要是(明天, 一会儿)能下雨就好了。”在这种句型的从句中有时含有表示将来的时间状语:

1. Mrs. Brown wishes her son would become a lawyer. (IME) 布朗太太想,要是她儿子能成为律师就好了。

2. I wish something interesting would happen. (BEU) 要是能发生什么有意思的事就好了。

3. I wish he would come tomorrow. (LEG) 要是他明天来就好了。

有时候,I wish you would 是表示一种客气请求,因此这种愿望是容易实现的:

4. I wish you'd give her a message for me. (PEU) 希望你能替我向她捎个口信。

5. I wish you wouldn't smoke any more. (London) 我希望你不要再吸烟了。

有时候,在这种句型中 would 表示“习惯、坚持、自愿”等含义;也有可能是指现在时间(如例3):

1. I wish she wouldn't sing in the bath. (PEU) 但愿她洗澡时别老是唱歌。(She will keep singing in the bath. 她洗澡时总是唱歌)

2. I wish you wouldn't go out every night. (LDCE) 但愿你不要每天夜里都外出。

3. I wish you would forget it. (Dickens) 我真希望你把它忘了。

4. I wish I ____ his telephone number.

A. remember B. have remember C. remembered D. would remember(EPT)

2. “Did John ask you to play tennis this Saturday?” “Yes, but I wish it ____ before tomorrow.” A. stopped raining B. would stop raining C. will stop raining D. would stop to rain(TOEFL)