Wish Clauses: Multiple Choice

Decide whether each wish is about now, about the past, or about someone else's annoying behaviour, then choose the answer that completes the sentence. Your first choice counts.

1. I've lived in Madrid for two years, but I still can't follow a conversation in Spanish. I wish I _____ the language better.

2. The boy next door practises the drums every evening, usually just as I'm going to sleep. I wish he _____ earlier in the day.

3. Come on, the film starts in five minutes, and you're still choosing a jacket! I wish you _____ up.

4. We moved into this flat last year. It's on the fourth floor, and there's no lift. I wish our building _____ one.

5. My manager started phoning me on my days off when I joined the company last year, and she still does it, even when nothing is urgent. I wish she _____ me at weekends.

6. My laptop takes ten minutes to start, and it keeps crashing. It's so annoying! I wish I _____ a new one, but they're far too expensive.

7. I didn't bring a coat on our walk yesterday, and I was freezing the whole time. I wish I _____ one.

8. My son is only fifteen, so every Saturday I have to drive him to football practice. I wish he _____ old enough to drive.

9. I can't swim, so I always stay on the beach while my friends go in the sea. I wish I _____ how to swim.

10. My cousin sold our grandfather's old watch last year, and now we'll never get it back. I wish he _____ it.

11. I failed my driving test again this morning because I panicked at a roundabout. I wish I _____ more lessons before the test.

12. The people upstairs are playing loud music again, and it's after midnight. I wish they _____ it down.

13. I started a new job last month, and now I have to get up at five every morning. I wish I _____ to start work so early.

14. Whenever we eat out, my uncle complains loudly to the waiter about something. It's so embarrassing. I wish he _____ such a fuss.

15. I ate three slices of chocolate cake at the party last night, and now I feel terrible. I wish I _____ that third slice.

16. Our neighbour has cut down the beautiful old oak tree in his garden, and now our street looks so bare. I wish he _____ it down.

17. My grandparents live in a tiny village two hours from the nearest hospital, and I worry about them every winter. I wish they _____ closer to a town.

18. I always found French boring at school, so I gave it up after a year. Now I'm working in Paris, and I wish I _____ with it.

19. Max has been tapping his pen on the desk all afternoon, and I can't concentrate. I wish he _____.

20. The taxi driver ignored my directions to the airport, and we sat in traffic for an hour. I nearly missed my flight! I wish he _____ to me.