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Wishes Exercises
Wishes Exercises
These exercises are based on the Reading and Use of English paper where you may be tested on this grammar point.
Open close - write one word to complete the sentence.
Key word transformation - complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given.
Key word transformation
You keep borrowing my clothes without asking, and it’s driving me crazy.
WISH
I ____________________ my clothes without asking.
wish you would not borrow
wish + would not + verb is used to complain about someone’s repeated or annoying behaviour.
Open Cloze
If __________ people were more careful about what they post online!
only
If only + (unreal) past simple expresses a strong wish about present behaviour.
Key word transformation
I failed my driving test because I didn’t practise enough.
WISH
I ____________________ more before the test.
wish I had practised
wish + past perfect expresses regret about something that happened (or didn’t) in the past.
Open Cloze
If __________ I had taken that advice when I had the chance!
only
If only + past perfect expresses regret about a missed opportunity.
Key word transformation
You’re always complaining about your job, but you never try to find a new one.
WISH
I ____________________ complaining about your job all the time.
wish you would stop
wish + would + verb expresses annoyance at someone’s repeated behaviour.
Open Cloze
I wish my parents __________ understand how difficult it is to live alone.
could
wish + could + verb expresses a desire for someone to have an ability or understanding they don’t have now.
Key word transformation
I prefer you not to bring your phone to class.
RATHER
I ____________________ bring your phone to class.
would rather you didn’t
would rather + (unreal) past simple expresses a polite preference or request about another person’s behaviour.
Key word transformation
You should really start planning your future.
ABOUT
It’s ____________________ thinking seriously about your future.
about time you started
It’s about time + (unreal) past simple means something should happen now or should already have happened.
Key word transformation
The film hasn’t started yet; we should probably go in now.
TIME
It’s ____________________ to the cinema.
time we went
It’s time + (unreal) past simple means it’s the right moment to do something.
Key word transformation
I prefer you not to text during dinner.
RATHER
I ____________________ during dinner.
would rather you did not
would rather + (unreal) past simple expresses a preference about another person’s actions.
Open Cloze
If __________ I hadn’t forgotten her birthday! She’s still upset with me.
only
If only + past perfect shows regret about the past.
Open Cloze
I wish I __________ what he’s thinking, but he never says anything.
knew
wish + (unreal) past simple expresses a wish about something that isn’t true now.
Key word transformation
You’ve been lying on the sofa all summer! You should really start looking for a job.
HIGH
It’s ____________________ for a job.
high time you looked
It’s high time + (unreal) past simple suggests something should have happened already.
Key word transformation
I don’t like it when my neighbours make so much noise late at night.
WISH
I ____________________ make so much noise after midnight.
wish my neighbours would not
wish + would (not)+ verb shows irritation or complaint about someone’s behaviour.
Key word transformation
I’m sorry I didn’t learn another language when I was at school.
WISH
I ____________________ another language at school.
wish I had learned
wish + past perfect shows regret about a past missed opportunity.
Key word transformation
I was too nervous during the interview and didn’t make a good impression.
ONLY
If ____________________ so nervous during the interview.
only I had not been
if only + past perfect expresses regret about a past situation.
Open Cloze
I wish it __________ stop raining; we’ve had bad weather all week.
would
wish + would + verb is used to complain about a situation we want to change.
Key word transformation
It keeps raining every weekend, so we can’t play football.
ONLY
If ____________________ every weekend, so we could play football.
only it did not rain
If only + past simple expresses a wish about a present situation we’d like to change.
Open Cloze
It’s about __________ we started preparing seriously for the exam.
time
It’s about time + (unreal) past simple means we should do it now or soon.
Open Cloze
I wish my neighbours __________ not play music so loudly every weekend.
would
wish + would + verb expresses annoyance about someone else’s repeated behaviour.
Key word transformation
I can never find the right words when I speak English, and that really frustrates me.
WISH
I ____________________ the right words more easily when I speak English.
wish I could find
wish + could + verb expresses a lack of ability in the present that we would like to have.
Open Cloze
I’d rather you __________ not tell anyone what I just told you.
did
would rather + (unreal) past simple expresses preference about someone else’s behaviour.
Key word transformation
I regret telling him my secret; he’s already told everyone.
ONLY
If ____________________ him my secret!
only I had not told
If only + past perfect expresses a strong feeling of regret about something you did.
Open Cloze
If __________ you weren’t so shy, you’d probably make friends more easily.
only
if only + (unreal) past simple expresses a wish for the present
Open Cloze
It’s high __________ your brother learned to be a bit more responsible.
time
It’s high time + (unreal) past simple criticises delay; it should already have happened.
Open Cloze
It’s about __________ we all stopped arguing and started listening to each other.
time
It’s about time + (unreal) past simple means something should happen now or very soon,
Open Cloze
I wish I __________ understand native speakers as easily as my teacher does.
could
wish + could + verb expresses lack of ability in the present.
Key word transformation
We’re already late for the concert; we really should leave right now.
TIME
It’s ____________________ for the concert.
(high) time we left
It’s (high) time + (unreal) past simple means we should do something now or very soon
Open Cloze
I wish I __________ taken that job opportunity last year; it was a mistake to refuse.
had
wish + past perfect expresses regret about a past decision.