Wish + past tense – just not happy B

By Cecilia Brabin | September 23, 2016

wish + the past tense is used to express a regret, to say something is not as we would like it to be.

  • I wish Dave went out more.
  • She wishes she had blond hair.

If only + the past tense is used in the same way:

  • If only I had more money. (This tells you I don’t have enough money and wish I had more money.)

Choose the missing verb!

 

 

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1. [Multiple choice]

I wish I ………. more friends.

Answers for Quiz [1].

  • 1. understood
  • 2. paid
  • 3. had (correct)
  • 4. was / were

2. [Multiple choice]

I wish that dog ………. more exercise.

Answers for Quiz [2].

  • 1. ate
  • 2. slept
  • 3. asked for
  • 4. got (correct)

3. [Multiple choice]

I wish I ………. like her.

Answers for Quiz [3].

  • 1. rang up
  • 2. looked (correct)
  • 3. earned
  • 4. had

4. [Multiple choice]

They wished they ……………. the first offer on the house.

(notice that the first verb is in the past here, so the regret has to go into the past perfect.
To gazump is to offer more money than someone else has for a property. Sometimes buyers think they have had an offer for a property accepted, only to find someone has offered more – they have been gazumped. In Scotland this practice is illegal.)

Answers for Quiz [4].

  • 1. saw
  • 2. gave
  • 3. had accepted (correct)
  • 4. gazumped

5. [Multiple choice]

I wish I ………. more intelligent.

Answers for Quiz [5].

  • 1. was or were (correct)
  • 2. studied
  • 3. reacted
  • 4. spoke

6. [Multiple choice]

If only we ………. in Scotland.

Answers for Quiz [6].

  • 1. booked
  • 2. lived (correct)
  • 3. knew
  • 4. paid

7. [Multiple choice]

My brother wishes more people ………. him.

Answers for Quiz [7].

  • 1. like
  • 2. liked (correct)
  • 3. misunderstood
  • 4. misunderstand

8. [Multiple choice]

I wish I ………. his address.

Answers for Quiz [8].

  • 1. remember
  • 2. had (correct)
  • 3. copy down
  • 4. promise
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