Fill in the blanks with an appropriate verb form.
1I would rather you ............... at me.
Wrong!
After "would rather" about another person's present or future action, use the past simple, so "didn't shout" is correct.
2I wish I ............... work on Saturdays.
Wrong!
After "I wish" for an unreal present situation, use the past simple, so "didn't have to" is correct.
3You'd better ............... me my money back.
Wrong!
After "had better", use the base form of the verb, so "give" is correct.
4After the way he behaved at my party, I wish I ............... him.
Wrong!
After "I wish" about a past regret, use the past perfect, so "hadn't invited" is correct.
5I'd rather ............... up early on Sundays.
Wrong!
Use "would rather not" plus the base verb to say what you prefer not to do, so "not get" is correct.
6The program starts at 6 o'clock. You had better ............... late.
Wrong!
The negative form of "had better" is "had better not" plus the base verb, so "not be" is correct.
7I'd rather you ............... on Tuesday than Monday.
Wrong!
After "would rather" about another person's future action, use the past simple, so "came" is correct.
8I wish I ............... to work tomorrow.
Wrong!
After "I wish" for an unreal future situation, use the past simple, so "didn't have" is correct.
9I wish you ............... insist on leaving early.
Wrong!
Use "I wish you wouldn't" to complain about another person's annoying habit, so "wouldn't" is correct.
10You'd better ............... him with your crude jokes.
Wrong!
The negative form of "had better" is "had better not" plus the base verb, so "not offend" is correct.
11I wish I ............... get a scholarship.
Wrong!
After "I wish" to express an unreal present ability or possibility, use "could", so "could" is correct.
12I wish you ............... leave me alone.
Wrong!
Use "I wish you would" to show that you want someone to do something, so "would" is correct.
Answers
- I would rather you didn’t shout at me.
- I wish I didn’t have to work on Saturdays.
- You’d better give me my money back.
- After the way he behaved at my party, I wish I hadn’t invited him.
- I’d rather not get up early on Sundays.
- The program starts at 6 o’clock. You had better not be late.
- I’d rather you came on Tuesday than Monday.
- I wish I didn’t have to work tomorrow.
- I wish you wouldn’t insist on leaving early.
- You’d better not offend him with your crude jokes.
- I wish I could get a scholarship.
- I wish you would leave me alone.