Choose the best option to complete each sentence.
1I wish I ............... how to reset the router; then I could help you now.
Wrong!
"knew" expresses an unreal present situation; the result refers to helping now.
2If only we ............... the earlier train yesterday, we would not have missed the meeting.
Wrong!
"had caught" expresses a past regret with a past counterfactual result.
3My neighbour refuses to change his habit. I wish he ............... the music down from now on.
Wrong!
"would turn" expresses a desired change in another person's repeated behaviour, signalled by "from now on."
4She wishes she ............... work this Saturday, but her shift has already been confirmed.
Wrong!
"didn't have to" expresses an unwanted obligation in the future, not a past regret.
5I wish I ............... Maya about the change before she arrived yesterday.
Wrong!
"had told" refers to the unreal earlier action before Maya arrived yesterday.
6If only the weather ............... warmer this coming weekend, we could hold the party outside.
Wrong!
"were" presents warmer weather as an unreal situation in the coming weekend.
7I wish I ............... speak Mandarin; it would make my new job much easier.
Wrong!
"could" expresses a wished-for ability in the present, as required by the new job now.
8They wish they ............... a larger flat now that the baby has arrived.
Wrong!
"had" expresses unreal present possession, signalled by their need for a larger flat now.
9If only I ............... my phone at home this morning, I could have called you.
Wrong!
"hadn't left" identifies the unreal past cause of being unable to call this morning.
10The council has refused twice, but the campaign continues. We wish it ............... a safer crossing next year.
Wrong!
"would build" expresses a desired future action by the council, reinforced by "next year."
11If only I ............... you at the concert last night, but I was working a night shift.
Wrong!
"could have joined" expresses regret about a past inability, signalled by "last night."
12The match starts in twenty minutes, and the rain is getting heavier. I wish it ............... soon.
Wrong!
"would stop" expresses a desired change in the immediate future, signalled by "soon."
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- I wish I knew how to reset the router; then I could help you now.
- If only we had caught the earlier train yesterday, we would not have missed the meeting.
- My neighbour refuses to change his habit. I wish he would turn the music down from now on.
- She wishes she didn’t have to work this Saturday, but her shift has already been confirmed.
- I wish I had told Maya about the change before she arrived yesterday.
- If only the weather were warmer this coming weekend, we could hold the party outside.
- I wish I could speak Mandarin; it would make my new job much easier.
- They wish they had a larger flat now that the baby has arrived.
- If only I hadn’t left my phone at home this morning, I could have called you.
- The council has refused twice, but the campaign continues. We wish it would build a safer crossing next year.
- If only I could have joined you at the concert last night, but I was working a night shift.
- The match starts in twenty minutes, and the rain is getting heavier. I wish it would stop soon.