23-Sep-2011 12:47
What is the difference between these two sentences?
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"I wish you could have come with me"
and "I wish you would have come with me."
Is there any difference here?
Thanks for any help
Could indicates the possibility, the potential. Would does not carry any potential. It carried a notion of choice. In this context, would could indicate disappointment, or even slight reproach (but not necessarily, it depends on the tone and rest of the context): You could have come but you didn't, you chose not to come.
The could sentence simply indicates that "you" were not able to come with "me" (and I would have liked for you to come with me).
Thank you Maude ![]()
Hi Kevin,
Just a note for your interest: 'I wish you would have come' is mainly used in U.S. English. The standard form for British English is 'I wish you had come'.
Thanks JJ
VERY CLEAR-CUT DIFFERENCE. THNX


