Grammar Exercises - If only / I wish ...

Do the exercises and click on the button to check your answers.

Decide whether these statements express a "wish" or a "regret":

1. I wish I could fly.

If only she had seen the doctor earlier. He could have saved her.

If only I traveled to New York.

I wish I were a doctor.

4.
Choose the correct answer:

1. Alice didn't get a good grade. She wishes she (work) harder.
Tom likes football very much. He wishes he (become) a professional football
player.
He was running very fast when he had a heart attack. If only he (not/run) so
fast.
She's keen on computers. She wishes she (study) computer science next
school year.
I am sorry I dont know how to use the computer. If only I (know) how to use
it.
I stayed late at work and missed the last bus. I wish I (stay) at work late

Grammar Exercise - Wish and regret

Do the exercises below on wish and regret then click on the button
to check your answers.
(Before doing the exercises you may want to read the lesson on wish and regret )
Choose the correct preposition

1. I wish I

to him yesterday.
I need help badly. If only you
help me.
My old car often breaks down. I wish I
a new car.
He didn't pass the exam. If only he
hard.
She was absent. I wish she
the conference.

What a beautiful house! I wish I

a house like this one.
I wish I
rich. I would buy a farm and enjoy the calm of the countryside.
They had that bad accident because they were careless. If only they
more careful.
We saw the film. I wish you
it with us. It was an amazing evening.
I like traveling around the world. If only I time to realize my dream.

Questions:
Bruce wishes he ______________________________ (have) more money so he
could buy a new sweater.
I wish I ______________________________ (be) taller so that I could be in the
basketball team.
I wish you ______________________________ (stop) watching television
while I am talking to you.
I wish you ______________________________ (do) that. It annoys me.
I wish the holidays ______________________________ (come) so we could go
off to the seaside.
Of course Tom wishes he ______________________________ (come) with us
to Paris, but he has to stay here.
I wish we ______________________________ (go) to the match on Saturday
but we're visiting my uncle.
I wish you ______________________________ (keep) your mouth shut
yesterday. Now Mary knows
If only I ______________________________ (lose) all my money. Now I'm
broke.
Peter is always late. If only he ______________________________ (turn up)
on time for a change!

ANSWERS:
had
were
would stop
wouldn't do
would come
could come
could go
had kept
hadn't lost

would turn up
----

EXERCISES:
Complete the sentence with the correct tense of the
verb in brackets.
1. We always have to take the bus home. I wish we (not live) so far from the
city centre
2. We are completely soaked. I wish we (bring) the umbrella
3. He is always whistling. I wish he (not do) that all the time
4. We are having a wonderful holiday on the beach. I wish you (be) here
5. This computer is useless. I wish my parents (choose) a better one when they
bought it
6. She's got a new job but she feels bored. She wishes her boss (give) her more
responsibility.
7. He's sorry he missed the wedding ceremony. He wishes he (go)
8. I wish my neighbours (not make) so much noise. I can hardly sleep at night
9. Citizens wish their leaders (start) doing something to improve the economic
situation
10. They have lots of money. Even so, they wished they (have) more and more

Write a sentence using "wish"

1. I ate too much and now I have stomachache.
2. His parents would like him to look after himself
3. I can't smoke anywhere now. The anti-smoking law is so restrictive!
If only
4. It's a pity we don't own a boat, I love sailing.
5. My pupils keep talking in class all the time and I can't handle it.
6. Visiting the museum was interesting but it would have been nicer to go to the
beach
7. Next Christmas I would like to stay at home for a change
next Christmas
8. He never brings me flowers on our anniversary
9. I failed all my exams. I should have studied harder.
If only
10. I don't like being so tall

Q1 - I wish I ____ play the piano.

would
could
Q2 - I wish they ____ keep the noise down next door.
would
could
Q3 - I wish I _____ that yesterday.
didn't say
hadn't said
Either could be used here.
Q4 - I wish I ____ at home.
was
were
Either could be used here.
Q5 - I wish I _____ the time to go next week.
have
had
Either could be used here.
Q6 - She wishes she ____ come last Friday.
could come
could have come
Either could be used here.
Q7 - I wish ____ the manager.
see
seeing
to see
Q8 - He wished he ____ it yesterday.
didn't forget
hadn't forgotten
Q9 - I wish I _____, but I was so busy that I didn't have the time.
could have helped
could help
Either could be used here.
Q10 - I wish I _____, but I am so busy that I don't have the time.
could have helped
could help
Q11 - I wish ____ all the best.
to you
you
Either could be used here.
Q12 - I wish it ____ end soon.
will
would
Q13 - They wished he ____ come skiing with them, but he hadn't recovered from
the operation.
would
could
Either could be used here.
Q14 - Wish is a...
verb
noun
Both
Q15 - Is 'wish' a modal verb?

Yes
No
Q16 - 'Wish' can be replaced by....
If
If only
Either could be used here.
Q17 - I wish I ____ at home.
was
were
Either could be used here.

Answer Sheet - Wish

This page displays the answers to the 'Wish' quiz.
Q1 - I wish I ____ play the piano.
would
could
Q2 - I wish they ____ keep the noise down next door.
would
could
Q3 - I wish I _____ that yesterday.
didn't say
hadn't said
Either could be used here.
Q4 - I wish I ____ at home.
was
were
Either could be used here.
Q5 - I wish I _____ the time to go next week.
have
had
Either could be used here.
Q6 - She wishes she ____ come last Friday.
could come
could have come
Either could be used here.
Q7 - I wish ____ the manager.
see
seeing
to see
Q8 - He wished he ____ it yesterday.
didn't forget

hadn't forgotten
Q9 - I wish I _____, but I was so busy that I didn't have the time.
could have helped
could help
Either could be used here.
Q10 - I wish I _____, but I am so busy that I don't have the time.
could have helped
could help
Q11 - I wish ____ all the best.
to you
you
Either could be used here.
Q12 - I wish it ____ end soon.
will
would
Q13 - They wished he ____ come skiing with them, but he hadn't recovered from
the operation.
would
could
Either could be used here.
Q14 - Wish is a...
verb
noun
Both
Q15 - Is 'wish' a modal verb?
Yes
No
Q16 - 'Wish' can be replaced by....
If
If only
Either could be used here.
Q17 - I wish I ____ at home.
was
were
Either could be used here.