We can use ‘wish’ to talk about something that we would like to be different in the present or the future. It’s used for things that are impossible or very unlikely.
- I wish I had a big house (I don’t have a big house, but it’s a nice idea!).
- I wish we didn’t need to work today (we do need to work today, unfortunately).
- I wish you lived close by (you don’t live close by).
- I wish John weren’t busy tomorrow* (he is busy, unfortunately).