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I had an argument in the office today, about structuring something I said about not wearing socks. I said the first of the four lines below, then everyone had their input. All the arguing gave three more options. What is the correct way to say this?

I wish I had worn socks today.
I wish I'd worn socks today.
I wish I'd had worn socks today.
I wish I'd have had worn socks today.

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I think this question is too localized to be useful. It's not clear what part you have a question about. Of the examples, the first two are equivalent and correct (one just uses a contraction) and the others are incorrect. – Lynn Mar 6 '12 at 0:37
I think it's general reference, apart from the totally pointless issue about whether it's "correct tense" to contract I had into I'd. – FumbleFingers Mar 6 '12 at 1:05
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@C.Johns: Out of curiosity, where is your office located, and what language(s) is(are) natively spoken by you and your officemates? – John Lawler Mar 6 '12 at 2:24
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@C .Johns, out of curiosity as well, do you mean to say that you wear shoes without socks sometimes? – Bidella Mar 6 '12 at 6:03

closed as too localized by Lynn, FumbleFingers, TimLymington, kiamlaluno, Marthaª Mar 6 '12 at 19:24

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1 Answer

up vote 6 down vote accepted

Answers 1 and 2 are identical (apart from I had being contracted) and are correct.

The rest of them are not.

Also note that a that has been elided from all of them. The full sentence would be:

I wish that I had worn socks today.

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I would call the tense in number 3 Past Past Perfect, and the tense in 4 Future Perfect in the Past Past... thank God these do not exist :) – Armen Ծիրունյան Mar 6 '12 at 0:35
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ha! yes I am no english scolar but find the above very funny. Thank you for the answer Jim, I now have office superiority for the day. – C.Johns Mar 6 '12 at 0:38

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