All Ears English Podcast AEE 2533: What Are You Wishing For Your English?
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Dec 18, 2025 The hosts dive into the nuances of 'wish' versus 'wishing,' exploring cultural differences around birthday celebrations. They highlight three specific uses of 'wishing' in English, from expressing regrets to contrasting hopes. The conversation includes role plays that illustrate natural conversations about desires and regrets during a fall festival. They also discuss how 'wishing you...' feels more intimate in writing than in speech, providing valuable insights for English learners.
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Childhood Birthday Wish Story
- Lindsay repeatedly wished for a horse as a child and kept her wish secret for years.
- She later softened wishes into broader hopes like world peace as an adult.
Wishing Has Multiple Uses
- English uses wishing in several distinct ways that learners often confuse.
- Understanding those different uses helps you sound more natural and connect better.
Use "I'm Wishing" For Present Regret
- Use "I'm wishing" to express regret about a current situation, e.g., "I'm wishing I had brought a jacket."
- Substitute with "I wish" for a similar regret when it's not tied to the immediate moment.