Get it correct
Today we are going to discuss some of the commonest errors in English that many people do not know are errors, for which reason they keep repeating them.
One of these errors has to do with the use of the words wish and if.
The word wish, when used as a verb, expresses a desire that cannot be attained or met even as the speaker expresses that desire.
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In other words, whatever is desired by 'wishing' cannot be attained immediately, for which reason we cannot use the normal English construction to express that desire.
That is why, whenever we use wish to express such a desire or hope, we must use it in the subjunctive mood — the mood which says what we express cannot be attained even as we speak or write.
For instance, if I'm having a good time somewhere away from home and I call my siblings to express the desire that I want them to be part of the fun, I can only express that desire in the subjunctive mood, since my siblings cannot join me as I express that desire.
That is why I have to write or say:
The place is jamming; I wish you people were here.
It is incorrect to write or say:
The place is jamming; I wish you people are here.
Note that the subjunctive mood is expressed with the past tense, never with the present tense, as in the following examples:
I wish Becky had not said that.
We with the man would forget what we did to him.
I wish our opponents would lose the match.
The word if is used to express the same desire or hope that cannot be attained or met even as the speaker expresses that desire or hope.
For instance, an adult with missed opportunities can express the desire to be young again thus:
If I were young, I'd not make those mistakes again.
It is incorrect to write or say:
If I'm young, I'll not make those mistakes again.
Other examples are:
If I were the President, I'd do everything to make the people happy.
If somebody gave me GHc10,000, I'd be happy.
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
If I were a bird, I'd fly high into the sky.
(To be continued)