Final answer:
The phrase "I wish" is a dependent clause because it does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase "I wish" constitutes a dependent clause because it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It lacks full meaning without additional information and therefore relies on an independent clause to complete its meaning. It contains a subject (I) and a verb (wish), but it prompts the question of what is being wished for, indicating its dependency on additional information.
An independent clause, on the other hand, can stand alone as a complete sentence, expressing a complete thought. An example of an independent clause is 'Hand me that socket wrench,' where the verb is 'hand' and the implied subject is the pronoun 'you.'