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Wishes & Hypotheticals

How unreal, wished-for, and imagined situations are expressed in Spanish, English and Chinese.

Compare languages

English uses 'wish' + past for present counterfactuals and 'would' for future. Spanish uses 'ojalá' + subjunctive and conditional. Chinese uses 要yào是shì/如rú果guǒ with no tense change, relying on context and particles.

Overview

Wishes and hypotheticals express desires for unreal or uncertain situations.

Spanish: Uses ojalá (from Arabic inshallah) + subjunctive. The conditional expresses hypothetical results. The imperfect and pluperfect subjunctive are essential.
English: Uses wish + past tense for present counterfactuals, wish + past perfect for past counterfactuals, and wish + would for future/behavioral desires. Hope is for real possibilities.
Chinese: Has no grammatical subjunctive or backshift. Uses 要yào是shì/如rú果guǒ for hypotheticals, 希xī望wàng for wishes, and particles (了le, 就jiù好hǎo了le) to mark counterfactuality.

Spanish

Ojalá + subjunctive

Ojalá expresses a strong wish and always triggers the subjunctive:

Present / future wish:

Ojalá venga mañana. (I hope he comes tomorrow.)
Ojalá llueva. (I hope it rains.)
Ojalá tengas razón. (I hope you’re right.)

Past counterfactual:

Ojalá hubiera venido. (If only he had come.)
Ojalá hubiera estudiado más. (If only I had studied more.)

Imperfect counterfactual (ongoing/background):

Ojalá fuera más fácil. (If only it were easier.)
Ojalá pudiera ayudarte. (If only I could help you.)

Esperar que + subjunctive

Esperar (hope) also triggers subjunctive:

Espero que venga. (I hope he comes.)
Espero que estés bien. (I hope you’re well.)
Esperaba que hubiera venido. (I hoped he had come.)

Querer que + subjunctive

Quiero que vengas. (I want you to come.)
Quería que vinieras. (I wanted you to come.)

Preferir / Más vale + subjunctive

Prefiero que no vengas. (I’d rather you didn’t come.)
Más vale que te vayas. (You’d better go.)

Si + subjunctive (contrary to fact)

Si tuviera dinero, viajaría. (If I had money, I would travel.)
Si hubiera estudiado, habría aprobado. (If I had studied, I would have passed.)

Hypothetical expressions

Expression	Meaning
como si + subjunctive	as if
aunque + subjunctive	even if
sin que + subjunctive	without
para que + subjunctive	so that

English

Wish + past (present counterfactual)

Wish expresses a desire for a situation that is not true now:

I wish I were richer. (I’m not rich.)
I wish I knew the answer. (I don’t know.)
I wish she lived closer. (She doesn’t live close.)
I wish it weren’t raining. (It is raining.)

Were for all persons (formal):

I wish I were taller. (preferred in formal)
I wish I was taller. (acceptable in informal)

Wish + past perfect (past counterfactual)

I wish I had studied harder. (I didn’t study hard.)
I wish she had come. (She didn’t come.)
I wish I hadn’t said that. (I said it.)

Wish + would (future/behavioral)

I wish he would stop talking. (He keeps talking.)
I wish it would rain. (It hasn’t rained.)
I wish you would listen. (You don’t listen.)

Cannot use would with first person for self-wishes:

❌ I wish I would be taller. → I wish I were taller.

If only

If only is stronger than wish:

If only I knew!
If only I had listened!
If only he would leave!

Hope (real possibilities)

I hope he comes. (Possible — indicative)
I hope it doesn’t rain. (Possible — indicative)

Never use hope for counterfactuals:

❌ I hope I were rich. → I wish I were rich.

Would rather

I’d rather you didn’t smoke. (past = present/future preference)
I’d rather you hadn’t told him. (past perfect = past preference)

It’s time (urging action):

It’s time we left. (past = present obligation)
It’s high time he grew up.

Supposing / What if

Supposing he refused?
What if it rained?

Chinese

希xī望wàng (hope — real possibility)

希xī望wàng expresses hope for real possibilities:

我wǒ希xī望wàng明míng天tiān不bù下xià雨yǔ。(I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.)
我wǒ希xī望wàng你nǐ能néng来lái。(I hope you can come.)

要yào是shì/如rú果guǒ + 就jiù好hǎo了le (wish/counterfactual)

要yào是shì…就jiù好hǎo了le = “If only…”

要yào是shì我wǒ有yǒu钱qián就jiù好hǎo了le。(If only I had money.)
要yào是shì他tā来lái了le就jiù好hǎo了le。(If only he had come.)
要yào是shì我wǒ当dāng时shí知zhī道dào就jiù好hǎo了le。(If only I had known.)

要yào是shì + question word (what if)

要yào是shì下xià雨yǔ怎zěn么me办bàn？(What if it rains?)
要yào是shì他tā不bù来lái呢ne？(What if he doesn’t come?)

宁níng愿yuàn / 宁níng可kě (would rather)

宁nìng愿yuàn / 宁nìng可kě = would rather:

我wǒ宁nìng愿yuàn在zài家jiā。(I’d rather stay home.)
我wǒ宁nìng可kě死sǐ也yě不bù去qù。(I’d rather die than go.)

早zǎo知zhī道dào… (if I had known)

早zǎo知zhī道dào = “if I had known earlier”:

早zǎo知zhī道dào我wǒ就jiù不bù去qù了le。(If I had known, I wouldn’t have gone.)

No tense change

Chinese verbs do not change for hypothetical vs real:

我wǒ希xī望wàng他tā来lái。(I hope he comes. — real)
要yào是shì他tā来lái了le就jiù好hǎo了le。(If only he would come. — counterfactual)

Same verb form: 来lái in both cases. Context and 就jiù好hǎo了le mark the counterfactual.

Comparison at a glance

Meaning	Spanish	English	Chinese
I hope (real)	Espero que venga (subjunctive)	I hope he comes (indicative)	希xī望wàng他tā能néng来lái
I wish (present unreal)	Ojalá fuera	I wish I were	要yào是shì我wǒ…就jiù好hǎo了le
I wish (past unreal)	Ojalá hubiera	I wish I had	要yào是shì我wǒ当dāng时shí…就jiù好hǎo了le
I wish (future/behavior)	Ojalá viniera	I wish he would	希xī望wàng他tā能néng…
Would rather	Prefiero que…	I’d rather…	宁níng愿yuàn…
What if	¿Y si…?	What if…?	要yào是shì…怎zěn么mó办bàn？
If only	Ojalá / Si al menos	If only…	要yào是shì…就jiù好hǎo了le

Examples

In Context

Spanish	English	Chinese
Ojalá fuera* más alto.*	I wish I were* taller.*	要yào是shì我wǒ再zài高gāo一yī点diǎn就jiù好hǎo了le。
Ojalá hubiera estudiado* más.*	I wish I had studied* more.*	要yào是shì我wǒ当dāng时shí多duō学xué习xí就jiù好hǎo了le。
Espero que puedas venir.	I hope you can come.	希xī望wàng你nǐ能néng来lái。

Common mistakes

English speakers learning Spanish: Using indicative after ojalá: Ojalá viene → Ojalá venga
Spanish speakers learning English: Using hope for counterfactuals: I hope I were rich → I wish I were rich
English speakers learning Chinese: Adding tense backshift: 要yào是shì我wǒ曾zēng经jīng有yǒu钱qián就jiù好hǎo了le → 要yào是shì我wǒ有yǒu钱qián就jiù好hǎo了le
Chinese speakers learning English: Confusing hope and wish: I wish he comes → I hope he comes

Subjunctive: How mood encodes unreality
Conditionals: How if-clauses express hypotheticals
Modals: How modal verbs express possibility and necessity
Reported Speech: How tense backshift relates to counterfactuality

Examples

I wish I were rich

Ojalá fuera rico

I wish he would come

Ojalá viniera / viniese

If only I had studied

Si al menos hubiera estudiado / Ojalá hubiera estudiado

I hope he comes (real)

Espero que venga (subjunctive)

What if it rains?

¿Y si llueve?

Would rather

Prefiero que... / Más vale que...

Examples

I wish I were rich

I wish he would come

If only I had studied

If only I had studied / I wish I had studied

I hope he comes (real)

I hope he comes (indicative)

What if it rains?

Would rather

I'd rather (that)...

Examples

I wish I were rich

我wǒ希xī望wàng我wǒ有yǒu钱qián

I wish he would come

我wǒ希xī望wàng他tā能néng来lái

If only I had studied

要yào是shì我wǒ当dāng时shí学xué习xí了le就jiù好hǎo了le

I hope he comes (real)

希xī望wàng他tā能néng来lái

What if it rains?

要yào是shì下xià雨yǔ怎zěn么mó办bàn？

Would rather

我wǒ宁níng愿yuàn... / 还huán是shì...比bǐ较jiào好hǎo

Comparison at a glance

Grammar concepts	Spanish	English	Chinese
I wish I were rich	Ojalá fuera rico	I wish I were rich	我wǒ希xī望wàng我wǒ有yǒu钱qián
I wish he would come	Ojalá viniera / viniese	I wish he would come	我wǒ希xī望wàng他tā能néng来lái
If only I had studied	Si al menos hubiera estudiado / Ojalá hubiera estudiado	If only I had studied / I wish I had studied	要yào是shì我wǒ当dāng时shí学xué习xí了le就jiù好hǎo了le
I hope he comes (real)	Espero que venga (subjunctive)	I hope he comes (indicative)	希xī望wàng他tā能néng来lái
What if it rains?	¿Y si llueve?	What if it rains?	要yào是shì下xià雨yǔ怎zěn么mó办bàn？
Would rather	Prefiero que... / Más vale que...	I'd rather (that)...	我wǒ宁níng愿yuàn... / 还huán是shì...比bǐ较jiào好hǎo

Side-by-side comparison

Grammar concepts	Spanish	English	Chinese
I wish I were rich	Ojalá fuera rico	I wish I were rich	我wǒ希xī望wàng我wǒ有yǒu钱qián
I wish he would come	Ojalá viniera / viniese	I wish he would come	我wǒ希xī望wàng他tā能néng来lái
If only I had studied	Si al menos hubiera estudiado / Ojalá hubiera estudiado	If only I had studied / I wish I had studied	要yào是shì我wǒ当dāng时shí学xué习xí了le就jiù好hǎo了le
I hope he comes (real)	Espero que venga (subjunctive)	I hope he comes (indicative)	希xī望wàng他tā能néng来lái
What if it rains?	¿Y si llueve?	What if it rains?	要yào是shì下xià雨yǔ怎zěn么mó办bàn？
Would rather	Prefiero que... / Más vale que...	I'd rather (that)...	我wǒ宁níng愿yuàn... / 还huán是shì...比bǐ较jiào好hǎo

Examples in context

I wish I were rich

Spanish

Ojalá fuera rico

English

I wish I were rich

Chinese

我wǒ希xī望wàng我wǒ有yǒu钱qián

I wish he would come

Spanish

Ojalá viniera / viniese

English

I wish he would come

Chinese

我wǒ希xī望wàng他tā能néng来lái

If only I had studied

Spanish

Si al menos hubiera estudiado / Ojalá hubiera estudiado

English

If only I had studied / I wish I had studied

Chinese

要yào是shì我wǒ当dāng时shí学xué习xí了le就jiù好hǎo了le

I hope he comes (real)

Spanish

Espero que venga (subjunctive)

English

I hope he comes (indicative)

Chinese

希xī望wàng他tā能néng来lái

What if it rains?

Spanish

¿Y si llueve?

English

What if it rains?

Chinese

要yào是shì下xià雨yǔ怎zěn么mó办bàn？

Would rather

Spanish

Prefiero que... / Más vale que...

English

I'd rather (that)...

Chinese

我wǒ宁níng愿yuàn... / 还huán是shì...比bǐ较jiào好hǎo

Key Takeaways

Spanish: Uses ojalá (from Arabic inshallah) + subjunctive. The conditional expresses hypothetical results. The imperfect and pluperfect subjunctive a.

English: Uses wish + past tense for present counterfactuals, wish + past perfect for past counterfactuals, and wish + would for future/behavioral des.

Chinese: Has no grammatical subjunctive or backshift. Uses 要yào是shì/如rú果guǒ for hypotheticals, 希xī望wàng for wishes, and particles (了le, 就jiù好hǎo了le). Chinese uses 要yào是shì/如rú果

Key concepts compared: I wish I were rich, I wish he would come, If only I had studied.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does English 'wish' require past tense for present counterfactuals?

English uses past tense after *wish* to indicate present unreality: 'I wish I knew' means I do not know now. For past counterfactuals, it uses past perfect: 'I wish I had known.' Spanish uses the subjunctive: *Ojalá supiera* (present counterfactual) and *Ojalá hubiera sabido* (past counterfactual). Chinese has no tense backshift: <ruby>我<rt>wǒ</rt></ruby><ruby>希<rt>xī</rt></ruby><ruby>望<rt>wàng</rt></ruby><ruby>我<rt>wǒ</rt></ruby><ruby>知<rt>zhī</rt></ruby><ruby>道<rt>dào</rt></ruby> (I wish I knew). Chinese speakers learning English will produce 'I wish I know,' failing to apply the backshift rule, and English speakers learning Chinese will over-apply backshift, producing unnatural forms.

How does Spanish 'ojalá' differ from English 'I hope' and 'I wish'?

*Ojalá* always triggers the subjunctive and implies a strong desire for an unreal outcome: *Ojalá viniera* (I wish he would come — he probably won't). English *hope* is for real possibilities ('I hope he comes' — he might), while *wish* is for counterfactuals. Chinese <ruby>希<rt>xī</rt></ruby><ruby>望<rt>wàng</rt></ruby> covers both: <ruby>希<rt>xī</rt></ruby><ruby>望<rt>wàng</rt></ruby><ruby>他<rt>tā</rt></ruby><ruby>来<rt>lái</rt></ruby> can mean 'I hope he comes' or 'I wish he would come' depending on context. Spanish speakers must learn to split <ruby>希<rt>xī</rt></ruby><ruby>望<rt>wàng</rt></ruby> into *hope* and *wish,* and English speakers must learn that *ojalá* is always counterfactual.

Why is 'If only' in English so difficult for Spanish and Chinese speakers?

English 'if only' expresses regret and requires the same backshift as *wish*: 'If only I had studied' (past regret). Spanish uses *Si al menos hubiera estudiado* or *Ojalá hubiera estudiado.* Chinese uses <ruby>要<rt>yào</rt></ruby><ruby>是<rt>shì</rt></ruby>...<ruby>就<rt>jiù</rt></ruby><ruby>好<rt>hǎo</rt></ruby><ruby>了<rt>le</rt></ruby>: <ruby>要<rt>yào</rt></ruby><ruby>是<rt>shì</rt></ruby><ruby>我<rt>wǒ</rt></ruby><ruby>当<rt>dāng</rt></ruby><ruby>时<rt>shí</rt></ruby><ruby>学<rt>xué</rt></ruby><ruby>习<rt>xí</rt></ruby><ruby>了<rt>le</rt></ruby><ruby>就<rt>jiù</rt></ruby><ruby>好<rt>hǎo</rt></ruby><ruby>了<rt>le</rt></ruby> (If only I had studied). The <ruby>就<rt>jiù</rt></ruby><ruby>好<rt>hǎo</rt></ruby><ruby>了<rt>le</rt></ruby> ending softens the regret. English speakers learning Chinese will omit the particle cluster, and Chinese speakers learning English will struggle with the past-perfect requirement.

References

Nueva gramática de la lengua española — Real Academia Española / Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española, 2010
The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language — Huddleston & Pullum, Cambridge University Press, 2002
A Comprehensive Grammar of the Modern Chinese Language — Li & Thompson, 1981

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verb-tenses conditionals

Last updated: June 4, 2026

Overview

Spanish

Ojalá + subjunctive

Esperar que + subjunctive

Querer que + subjunctive

Preferir / Más vale + subjunctive

Si + subjunctive (contrary to fact)

Hypothetical expressions

English

Wish + past (present counterfactual)

Wish + past perfect (past counterfactual)

Wish + would (future/behavioral)

If only

Hope (real possibilities)

Would rather

Supposing / What if

Chinese

希xī望wàng (hope — real possibility)

要yào是shì/如rú果guǒ + 就jiù好hǎo了le (wish/counterfactual)

要yào是shì + question word (what if)

宁níng愿yuàn / 宁níng可kě (would rather)

早zǎo知zhī道dào… (if I had known)

No tense change

Comparison at a glance

Examples

In Context

Common mistakes

Related topics

Examples

Examples

Examples

Comparison at a glance

Side-by-side comparison

Examples in context

Key Takeaways

Frequently Asked Questions

References