[Grammar] I wish Charles worked as hard as Mary ....

[ngoc_lan]

I'm not sure if this sentence is correct. Please help me!

I wish Charles worked as hard as Mary ....

I'd use "did" because of the phrase "Charles worked". Is it correct?
Thanks for your help!

 

[Raymott]

I'm not sure if this sentence is correct. Please help me!

I wish Charles worked as hard as Mary ....

I'd use "did" because of the phrase "Charles worked". Is it correct?
Thanks for your help!

I'd use "does". Mary does work that hard, and you wish Charles did also.

 

[philo2009]

It depends entirely on the meaning: 'does' if you are comparing Charles work-rate with Mary's current work-rate, 'did' if you are comparing it with her past work-rate.

 

[ngoc_lan]

It depends entirely on the meaning: 'does' if you are comparing Charles work-rate with Mary's current work-rate, 'did' if you are comparing it with her past work-rate.

So if there is no context, is "does" the best choice?

 

[Raymott]

So if there is no context, is "does" the best choice?

No, I gave you a context to show that 'did' in one clause does not necessitate 'did' in the other. If there is no context, there's no call for a sentence at all.

 

[Barb_D]

If there is no context, there's no call for a sentence at all.

:up::up::up:

 

[ngoc_lan]

Thank you very much!

 

[philo2009]

So if there is no context, is "does" the best choice?

Most probably the 'expected' answer (although, as pointed out, not the only grammatically possible one.)