کاش
Wishing with کاش
A wish about now uses the simple past, and a regret about the past uses the past perfect.
How It Works
| Time | Verb form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| later | present subjunctive | کاش فردا برف ببارد! |
| now | simple past | کاش امروز وقت داشتم. |
| earlier | past perfect | کاش زودتر آمده بودی. |
The verb in the "now" row looks like a past tense, but it speaks about the present, because the wish is not real: کاش خواهرم اینجا بود. (I wish my sister were here.)
For a regret, the past perfect puts the wish in the past: کاش به او زنگ زده بودم. (I wish I had called him.)
For a wish that something does not happen, put نـ on the verb: کاش دیر نکنی (I hope you won't be late), کاش دیر نکرده بودم (I wish I hadn't been late).
The wish can be about another person: کاش او زود بیاید. (I wish he would come soon.) The verb takes the ending of the person who acts.
کاش has no person ending, so it never changes. It stands at the start of the sentence. End a strong wish with !, and a quiet wish with a full stop.
Examples (5)
- کاش فردا برف ببارد!
I wish it would snow tomorrow!
The subjunctive ببارد looks forward to tomorrow.
- کاش امروز وقت داشتم.
I wish I had time today.
The simple past داشتم speaks about today and says that it is not true.
- کاش خواهرم اینجا بود.
I wish my sister were here.
بود looks like the past, but the wish is about now.
- کاش زودتر آمده بودی؛ منتو تمام شد.
I wish you had come earlier; the mantu is finished.
The past perfect آمده بودی is a regret about the past.
- کاش به او زنگ زده بودم.
I wish I had called him.
زنگ زده بودم is the past perfect of زنگ زدن.
Common Mistakes
Using the subjunctive for a regret about the past.
کاش دیروز زود بیایی.کاش دیروز زود آمده بودی.A regret about the past needs the past perfect. The subjunctive بیایی looks forward.
Using the present tense with می after کاش.
کاش فردا برف می‌بارد.کاش فردا برف ببارد.For a wish about later, use the subjunctive with بـ and not the present tense with می.
How It Connects
Learn This First
کاش takes the subjunctive for a hope and the past perfect for a regret, so those two come first.
Related Patterns
- Unreal Present Conditions
اگر with the past and می also talks about something that is not true now.
Level 4 - امیدوارم کهHoping with امیدوارم
امیدوارم که says "I hope" and takes the subjunctive.
Level 3 - Should Have Done
باید with the past and می also talks about a missed chance.
Level 4 - Unreal Past Conditions
اگر with the past perfect talks about a past that did not happen.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice کاش in Bubblegum
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