Wish & If Only Exercises PDFSet 1: Present Wishes: Wish / If Only + Past Simple
20 questions·12 min·Answers included·Explanations included
Preview: Questions
Fill in the blank with the correct option.
1.I don't have a car. I wish I ___ a car.
a) would haveb) am havingc) haved) had
2.She's not here. If only she ___ here with us.
a) wereb) isc) would bed) has been
3.I can't play the piano. I wish I ___ play the piano.
a) canb) am able toc) couldd) would
4.I have to work on Saturdays. I wish I ___ have to work on Saturdays.
a) don'tb) didn'tc) wouldn'td) won't
5.Tom isn't tall enough to play basketball. He wishes he ___ taller.
a) isb) would bec) has beend) were
... and 15 more questions in the PDF
Preview: Answers
1.had
2.were
3.could
4.didn't
5.were
... and 15 more answers in the PDF
Preview: Explanations
1."had"(d)
After 'wish', use past simple to talk about present wishes. 'I wish I had' means I don't have a car now, but I want one. Don't use present simple or 'would' here.
2."were"(a)
'If only' works exactly like 'wish' — use past simple. After wish/if only, we use 'were' for all subjects (I/he/she/it were), not 'was'. This is the subjunctive form.
3."could"(c)
'Wish + could' expresses a wish about ability. 'I wish I could play' means I can't play now, but I want to be able to. 'Could' is the past form of 'can', following the past simple rule after wish.
4."didn't"(b)
For negative present wishes, use 'didn't + base verb'. 'I wish I didn't have to work' means I have to work now, but I wish it weren't so. Don't use 'don't' (present simple) after wish.
5."were"(d)
After 'wish', use 'were' (not 'was' or 'is') with all subjects: I were, he were, she were. 'He wishes he were taller' expresses an unreal present situation using the subjunctive.
... and 15 more explanations in the PDF
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