More about "Wishing Sentences"

We did a lot of work today in class on many things including exchanging names for a holiday "grab". (That is what we call it in the United States.) We also did some more work on "wishing sentences" or what we call "conditional sentences". I don't know of anything in English that is more difficult to learn that this. There was a priest at our church named Manuel. He came from Columbia, South America. I listened to his HOMILY and his English was perfect. I talked with him after mass and he told me that he still was not sure about conditional sentences. I can understand why.
For example:
True situation: I have no money.
I wish(now) that I had some money. We use "had" even though we mean NOW the PRESENT. (I know it is crazy, but I did not invent English!)

True situation: I had no money yesterday.
I wish I had had some money yesterday.
So,.....if the "wish clause" is in the PRESENT, the main verb is in the PAST.
If the "wish clause" is in the PAST, the main verb is in the PAST PERFECT.
Don't worry.........You will learn it. There is more to come.......