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Many students of languages around the world tend to translate literally each word when they want to convey something in another language. Desear which in English means "to wish" is a tricky verb in Spanish because it only sounds natural in few cases. In order to express "I wish I could/had", we need to know that "desear" is not used here; instead, we use the subjunctive mood and the word ojalá.

Ojalá  is used along with subjunctive because your statement will never be a real fact.

 Let’s see some sentences:

☑ Ojalá pudiera correr más rápido.
☑ I wish I could run faster.

☑ Ojalá (él) pudiera correr más rápido. (If the context is clear, you can omit él)
☑ I wish he could run faster.

☑ Ojalá tuvieras más dinero.
☑ I wish you had more money.

You can also use ojalá when you are regretting something done or not done in the past, but you also need the preterit imperfect of the verb haber as a complement.

☑ Ojalá hubiera besado a esa chica.
☑ I wish I had kissed that girl.

☑ Ojalá no te hubiera conocido.
☑ I wish I hadn’t met you.

☑ Ojalá hubiera podido ver al Papa de cerca.
☑ I wish I could have seen the Pope closer.

If you have any questions, leave a comment in the comment box.