wish and if only Exercise at Auto-English

There are three distinct types of I wish / if only sentences:1 - REGRETS with the PAST PERFECT (the third conditional) e.g. I wish I hadn't got so angry. 2 - WANTING CHANGE FOR THE PRESENT OR FUTURE with the PAST SIMPLE e.g. I wish I had enough money to go to Mozambique this summer. 3 - COMPLAINTS with WOULD + INFINITIVE e.g. I wish you wouldn't arrive so late all the time. Regrets 1 2 3 I wish I ___________________ drunk and kissed Samantha. (get NEGATIVE) I wish it ___________________ so much. The garden's turned to mud. (rain NEGATIVE) If only I ___________________ there, I wouldn't have got a fine. (park NEGATIVE)

Wanting change 4 5 6 If only I ___________________ more time for my hobbies. (have) I wish it ___________________ more often in Valencia. (rain) I wish I ___________________ to go to your nephew's wedding. (have NEGATIVE)

Complaints 7 I wish you ___________________ so much. You're a complete idiot when you're drunk. (drink NEGATIVE) If only it ___________________ . The garden's as dry as a bone. (rain) I wish Samantha ___________________ her hair more often. It looks so greasy all the time. (wash)

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Mixed 10 I wish you ___________________ so horrible to your brother. He's a really nice bloke. (be NEGATIVE) I wish the council ___________________ that beautiful old house. It was part of the town's heritage. (demolish NEGATIVE) If only I ___________________ the money to go to Jon's wedding in The States. (have) I wish I ___________________ her she'd put on weight. She hates me now. (tell NEGATIVE) I wish you ___________________ to your mother like that. (speak NEGATIVE) If only we ___________________ a Hewlett Packard printer. The cartridges are so expensive. (buy NEGATIVE) I wish Jorge ___________________ so fast. It's only a matter of time before he kills someone. (drive NEGATIVE)

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Grammr 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. 2. 3. 4. 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.

Choose the correct answer: 1. Alice didn't get a good grade. She wishes she (work) harder. 2. Tom likes football very much. He wishes he (become) a professional football player. 3. He was running very fast when he had a heart attack. If only he (not/run) so fast. 4. She's keen on computers. She wishes she (study) computer science next school year. 5. I am sorry I dont know how to use the computer. If only I (know) how to use it. 6. I stayed late at work and missed the last bus. I wish I (stay) at work late