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Joy English · Level B2 · Wishes and regretsjoy-english.com

Wishes and regrets: wish and if only

Name:Date:

Talk about things you would like to be different now, regrets about the past, and habits that annoy you.

Choose the correct form

Choose the option that correctly completes each sentence.

  1. I wish I ___ a bigger flat. This one is too small.
    • a) had
    • b) have
    • c) will have
  2. Kenji wishes he ___ to the party last night. Everyone says it was great.
    • a) went
    • b) would go
    • c) had gone
  3. I wish my brother ___ borrowing my clothes without asking!
    • a) stops
    • b) would stop
    • c) will stop
  4. If only I ___ speak Korean! Then I could talk to my cousins.
    • a) could
    • b) can
    • c) would
  5. I ___ you have a lovely holiday.
    • a) wish
    • b) hope
    • c) would
  6. She wishes she ___ so rude to her friend yesterday.
    • a) wasn't
    • b) wouldn't be
    • c) hadn't been
  7. If only it ___ so cold today! I want to go to the beach.
    • a) isn't
    • b) weren't
    • c) won't be
  8. I wish I ___ that email. My manager was really upset.
    • a) hadn't sent
    • b) didn't send
    • c) wouldn't send

Write the verb

Type the correct form of the verb in brackets.

  1. I wish I ___ (know) the answer, but I have no idea.
  2. If only we ___ (not / miss) the last bus. Now we have to walk home.
  3. I wish you ___ (not / interrupt) me all the time. It's really annoying.
  4. Sara wishes she ___ (be) better at maths.
  5. I wish I ___ (take) more photos on our trip last year.
  6. My grandmother wishes she ___ (can) see her grandchildren more often.
  7. I wish I ___ (not / have to) work this weekend.
  8. If only I ___ (listen) to your advice before I bought that old car!

Answer key

Choose the correct form

  1. a) hadThis is an unreal present situation, so we use wish + past simple.
  2. c) had goneThis is a regret about the past, so we use wish + past perfect.
  3. b) would stopWe complain about another person's annoying habit with wish + would.
  4. a) couldThis is about an ability I don't have, so we use if only + could.
  5. b) hopeA good holiday is possible, so we use hope + clause. Wish would need a noun: I wish you a lovely holiday.
  6. c) hadn't beenThis is a regret about yesterday, so we use wish + past perfect: hadn't been.
  7. b) weren'tThis is an unreal present situation, so we use the past form. With be, were is common for every person.
  8. a) hadn't sentSending the email is a past action that I regret, so we use wish + past perfect.

Write the verb

  1. knewThis is an unreal present situation, so we use wish + past simple: knew.
  2. hadn't missed / had not missedMissing the bus is a past event that we regret, so we use the past perfect.
  3. wouldn't interrupt / would not interrupt / didn't interrupt / did not interruptWish + would is the most natural way to complain about another person's habit. Didn't interrupt is also possible.
  4. were / wasThis is an unreal present situation. With be, we use were, or was in everyday speech.
  5. had taken / 'd takenThe trip is in the past, so the regret needs the past perfect: had taken.
  6. couldFor an ability or possibility that is not real now, we use wish + could.
  7. didn't have to / did not have toThis is an unreal present situation, so have to moves back to the past simple: didn't have to.
  8. had listened / 'd listenedThis is a regret about a past action, so we use the past perfect: had listened.

Joy English · free English practice · https://joy-english.com/grammar/wish-if-only