Exercises · Sentences with ‘wish’

Sentences with ‘wish’ quiz

Choose the right tense for each sentence. Every example comes from real meetings, emails, updates and presentations – and each answer explains the rule.

Quick rules

wish + past simple

A present situation you would like to be different.

I wish I had more time to prepare.

wish + could

An ability you don’t have.

I wish I could speak German – our new client is in Munich.

wish + past perfect

A regret about the past.

I wish I had prepared better for the interview.

wish + would

Someone or something else you want to change. Not about yourself.

I wish he would stop interrupting.

hope

For things that might really happen in the future.

I hope the deal goes through next week.

Things you’d like to be different now
Regrets about the past
Annoying habits: wish + would
Wish or hope?
Mixed review

1. Things you’d like to be different now

Wish + past simple, ‘was / were’ and ‘could’.

1I wish I more time to prepare for board meetings.

havehadwill have

2I wish I less nervous when I present to senior management.

amwaswill be

3I wish I afford to send the whole team to the conference.

couldcanwould

4I wish our office closer to the station.

iswaswill be

5I wish I Mandarin – half of our suppliers are in China.

speakspokewill speak

2. Regrets about the past

Wish + past perfect and ‘could have’.

1I wish I finance at university instead of history.

studiedhad studied

2The dinner with the client was great. I wish we longer, but I had an early flight.

could staycould have stayedwould stay

3I wish I more confident when I started my career.

had beenwaswould be

4It’s pouring with rain. John must be wishing he a taxi.

tookwould takehad taken

5This supplier is excellent. I wish we about them earlier.

knewhad knownwould know

3. Annoying habits: wish + would

Wanting someone – or something – else to change.

1I really wish you checking your phone during meetings.

will stopwould stopstopped

2I wish people to me more often in meetings.

listenwill listenwould listen

3I wish the IT department our emails faster.

answerwould answerwill answer

4I wish I more decisive.

would bewere

5I wish it raining – we’re supposed to be playing golf with the client.

would stopwill stopstops

4. Wish or hope?

An imaginary situation, or something that could really happen?

1I the deal goes through next week.

hopewish

2I I had more experience of negotiating.

hopewish

3I hope you a good trip to Singapore.

havehadwould have

4I to become a partner in the firm within five years.

wishhope

5We you the best of luck in your new role!

hopewish

5. Mixed review

All the rules together.

1I wish I harder for the interview – maybe I would have got the job.

preparedhad prepared

2I wish he a bit louder – I can’t hear his presentation from the back.

would speakwill speakhad spoken

3I wish we on a beach right now – this budget meeting is endless.

arewerewould be

4I wish I you borrow my laptop – you’ve deleted the whole presentation!

didn’t lethadn’t let

5I hope the presentation well tomorrow.

goeswentwould go

Check a section to see your score here.

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