Which is correct: "I wish I were going" or "I wish I was going"?

Question

And can you please explain why?

Answer 1

What a great question! The answer, in short, is that "I wish I were going" is correct if you wish to speak good English, but "I wish I was going" is NOT correct, althouh it's highly tolerated.

There are several kinds of "moods" in language (like tenses, but not quire), and it's good to know most kinds. The *subjunctive mood" is the one concerning "were" versus "was."

Over many hundreds of years, the Americans British have become rather relaxed in using the moods appropriately. So it's not too uncommon to hear such statements, on either side of the "pond," as "If I was you..." If you prefer that way to say things, don't worry; only the really smart people will think you don't know how to talk. Even a teacher or two might mark you wrong, even though he or she would be incorrect.

Here's the best way to know the difference in most daily discourse: If the situation is not yet true (see...A below) or the phrase has the word "if" in it (as in B below), ere on the side of the intelligent person and say "were" intead of "was."

A: I'd rather you were/was on Mars.
("were" sounds better, eh?) Remember, the subjunctive mood refers to anythng that is not yet true.

B: If I were wealthy, I'd live in a mansion.
IIn this sentence, the subjunctive mood is used because the situation does not yet exist, AND it's wishful thinking, AND it has the word "if" in it.

To easily learn this, ask yourself this question: Is the statement about something that isn't true or something you only wish were true right now? If so, use the subjunctive past tense...in your example, "were" instead of "was."

If you are speaking about something that is, indeed, true, such as "He asked if I ___ going to the dance." the proper word would be "was." because this is what is what is know as an indicative or declarative mood because it is known to be true.

If you'd like to know more, study up on grammatical cases and tenses and learn about one of the biggest, most dramatic and longest-lasting conroversies--still going on!--in all of linquistic history!

PS: If you ever forget whether to use "was" or "were, think of "Oh, I wish I *WERE* an Oscar-Meyer Weiner..."

The Weiner knows goog grammar!

Answer 2

It`s "I wish I were going"
Pretty simple, actually. I wish - future tense.
I was - past tense.
SO don`t you wonder how you could possibly use both in the same sentence?
That`s basic.
The subjunctive mood is sometimes wrongly used for the Indicative. When the statement introduced by "if" or "though" is an actual fact, or what is assumed to be a fact, the proper mood to be used is the Indicative, not the Subjunctive.
Eg: If he was there, he must have heard the talk.
Here it is "was"
But
If I were you(but i`m not), I should agree.
If he were here, he would support me.
This is mere supposition.

Answer 3

Technically speaking, both are correct.

"I wish I was going" - This is correct gramatically (as it yields correct grammar). You wish you were going somewhere in the past.

"I wish I were going" - This sounds awkward, but is correct. This is the subjective tense in English grammar, and seems as if you are saying your statement in third person. But "I wish I were to go" would be more correct. This is also considered the conditional tense, because it usually is preceded or followed by a condition of some sort. (I wish I were to go to the park... with someone)

Strictly speaking, and casually speaking, "I wish I was going" would be correct.

Answer 4

Technically "I wish I were going" is more correct, but "I wish I was going" is also generally accepted because it has slipped into common usage and the subjunctive mood is going out of style in English. Most verbs use the same form as the (indicative) past tense for this kind of construction, but "be" is special.

Answer 5

If you wished you "were" going then in reality you "were" never able to go at all.
If you wish you "was" going then the reality is that you could have gone, but decided not to go for whatever reason.
I hope this explanation was clear enough.

Answer 6

I wish I was going is correct. Both was and were are past tense forms of the verb "be", but was is singular, and were is plural.

Answer 7

Demonica is rite, btw where r u going?

I is singular so it needs to be complimented by a singular verb*, which would make was the correct choice. if u where using the word "you" then u would have said "you were going" b/c you is plural and it needs to be associated with the plural form of was, hence, were.

Answer 8

It's an issue of singular vs. plural.
I wish they/ we were going - is correct.
I wish I/ he/ she was going - is correct.

Answer 9

I wish i were going", this would be correct.

Answer 10

No women are not the only ones that try this. I normally discover my self admiring somebody else and feeling very green with envy of them. that's low self-nicely worth yet I cant be certain. yet all and sundry feels it faster or later. except your a style of great suitable preppy types, or in case you're pleased with your self. yet no longer many all and sundry is pleased with the way they look. With human beings being made prettier and prettier how can an ordinary male experience mushy in his very own pores and skin. i think like I ought to stay as much as each and all of the proper human beings. yet I cant and that i visit in basic terms ought to get use to that. i visit be happy being me.