Wishes and Regrets Practice Test (Advanced): 45 Questions

Q1I wish I ___ more time to finish this project, but the deadline is in an hour.

Answer: D. had

The verb 'wish' followed by the past simple 'had' indicates a counterfactual present state—a desire for a situation that does not currently exist. We use 'had' because the verb must backshift (move back one tense) after 'wish' to show it is hypothetical. 'Have' is the present indicative and cannot be used here. 'Would have' is used for wishing for a change in someone's behavior or a future action, not for a present state of possession. 'Could had' is ungrammatical; modals must be followed by a base form.

Q2I wish you ___ stop tapping your pen on the desk; it's incredibly distracting.

Answer: B. would

When 'wish' is used to express dissatisfaction, annoyance, or a desire for a change in someone else's behavior, it is followed by 'would' + infinitive. This highlights the volitional nature of the act—the person could stop but hasn't. The past simple 'did' would imply a counterfactual state rather than a desired change in action. 'Had' would incorrectly suggest a past regret. 'Can' is incorrect because 'wish' requires a tense backshift to represent the hypothetical nature of the request.

Q3She wishes she ___ speak Mandarin, as it would be a huge asset for her career.

Answer: C. could

To express a desired ability or possibility in the present that is currently unfulfilled, 'wish' is paired with 'could' (the past form of 'can'). 'Had' would require a past participle to form a past regret. 'Would' is reserved for volitional actions or annoying habits, whereas speaking a language is an ability. 'Might' expresses a remote possibility, but 'could' is the standard modal for hypothetical present ability in 'wish' clauses.

Q4I wish I ___ have been at the conference last week, but I was unfortunately stuck in meetings.

Answer: A. could

This sentence expresses a regret regarding a past opportunity or ability. The structure 'wish' + 'could have' + past participle is used for counterfactual past abilities (things that were not possible). 'Had' would be redundant and ungrammatical before 'have been' ('had have been' is not a valid English form). 'Did' and 'would' do not form the necessary modal perfect structure required to convey the missed potential of being present at the event.

Q5He acts as if he ___ the CEO of this company, giving orders to everyone.

Answer: C. were

The conjunctions 'as if' and 'as though' trigger the past subjunctive—the hypothetical 'were' (a form for unreal situations)—when describing a counterfactual situation in the present. 'Were' is preferred for all subjects in formal English to emphasize that the statement is not true. 'Is' and 'has been' would imply the statement might actually be true. 'Will be' incorrectly places the hypothetical state in the future.

Q6It looks as if it ___ going to storm this afternoon, so let's pack our umbrellas.

Answer: B. is

Unlike counterfactual comparisons, when 'as if' follows verbs of perception like 'look', 'sound', or 'feel' to describe a situation that is likely true based on evidence, the indicative mood (standard present tense) is used. Since the speaker suggests packing umbrellas, the storm is a real possibility. 'Would be' or 'had been' would incorrectly frame the storm as a purely hypothetical or past counterfactual, which contradicts the immediate evidentiary context.

Q7Suppose you ___ the lottery yesterday, what would you have done with the money?

Answer: A. had won

When referring to a counterfactual event in the past ('yesterday'), the past perfect ('had won') is required to shift the timeframe back, similar to the condition clause in a third conditional. 'Won' (past simple) would refer to a present or future hypothetical. 'Would win' is used in result clauses, not in the initial hypothetical premise introduced by 'suppose'.

Q8What if you ___ the job offer next week? Will you accept it?

Answer: D. get

The phrase 'what if' can be followed by the present simple ('get') to discuss a realistic or possible future event, functioning like a first conditional. 'Had gotten' would imply a past counterfactual that cannot happen now. 'Would get' is generally avoided in the premise of such structures. 'Getting' is a participle and lacks the finite verb form needed to complete the clause.

Q9She looked as if she ___ a ghost; she was completely pale and trembling.

Answer: C. had seen

When 'as if' describes a comparison to a hypothetical prior event, the past perfect ('had seen') is used to maintain the correct sequence of tenses—the 'seeing' would have happened before the 'looking pale'. 'Has seen' is indicative and suggests she actually saw a ghost. 'Would see' incorrectly projects the event into a future relative to the past observation.

Q10I wish I ___ that argument with my boss last night; I deeply regret being so unprofessional.

Answer: C. had avoided

Regrets about the past are expressed using 'wish' followed by the past perfect ('had' + past participle). This creates a past counterfactual. 'Avoided' (past simple) would refer to a present state. 'Would have avoided' is a common non-standard error; the 'would have' construction belongs in the result clause of a conditional sentence, not the 'wish' clause itself.

Q11Supposing they ___ not invited us to the wedding, would we have gone anyway?

Answer: D. had

'Supposing' functions like 'if' in a conditional sentence. To form a third conditional (referring to a past unreal situation), the past perfect is required in the condition clause. 'Had' completes the structure 'had... invited'. 'Would' is used in the result clause, not the condition clause. 'Did' and 'have' fail to satisfy the requirement for a past-perfect hypothetical.

Q12I wish I ___ a better job, but I'm currently stuck in this role.

Answer: C. could find

'Wish' + 'could' expresses a desire for a change in ability or circumstances that the speaker currently finds impossible or difficult. The context 'currently stuck' suggests a desire for a present change, making 'could find' the correct choice. 'Will find' and 'am finding' are incorrect because 'wish' requires a past-form verb to signal a hypothetical/counterfactual meaning. 'Would find' is usually reserved for wishing for a change in others' behavior.

Q13She talks as if she ___ everything about the subject, but she's actually quite new to it.

Answer: C. knew

The use of 'as if' followed by the past simple ('knew') indicates a present counterfactual—she acts as if she possesses knowledge she does not actually have. 'Knows' (present simple) would suggest she actually does know everything. 'Had known' would shift the knowledge to a past timeframe, which is not supported by the present-tense main verb 'talks'.

Q14I wish you ___ told me the truth from the beginning; it would have saved us so much trouble.

Answer: A. had

To express regret about a past action or omission, 'wish' is followed by the past perfect ('had' + past participle). 'Would' is used for present/future annoyance or volition, not for past events. 'Did' is not used as an auxiliary for perfective wishes. 'Could had' is a morphological error; modals must be followed by the base form 'have'.

Q15I wish I ___ been able to attend the gala, but I was abroad.

Answer: C. had

The sentence refers to a past event ('was abroad'). Regret about a past state is expressed using the past perfect. 'Had' serves as the auxiliary for the past participle 'been'. 'Could' would require 'have' to form a modal perfect ('could have been'). 'Would' or 'did' do not fit the past perfect structure required here to describe a past regret.

Q16He behaves as though he ___ the owner of the mansion, despite being just a guest.

Answer: A. were

In formal English, 'as though' triggers the past subjunctive 'were' for hypothetical present situations. This 'hypothetical' form indicates the situation is not true. 'Is' would imply he might actually be the owner. 'Had been' would suggest a past hypothetical state, while 'would be' is not the standard form for counterfactual states in these comparisons.

Q17Suppose you ___ a chance to change one thing about your past, what would it be?

Answer: C. had

When 'suppose' introduces a hypothetical situation in the present or future, the past simple ('had') is used, following the logic of a second conditional. 'Have' is too real/direct for this hypothetical. 'Would have' belongs in the result clause of a conditional, not the initial premise. 'Had have' is ungrammatical.

Q18I wish it ___ raining; we really need to go outside for the photoshoot.

Answer: D. would stop

'Wish' + 'would' is used to express a desire for a change in a current situation or someone's behavior, often implying the current state is annoying. 'Had stopped' would be a regret about the past. 'Stop' and 'can stop' are incorrect because 'wish' requires a tense backshift (moving the tense back) to show the desire is hypothetical.

Q19She acted as if she ___ about the accident, but she remained silent.

Answer: B. had known

The main verb 'acted' is in the past. To indicate a hypothetical state that would have existed at the same time as or prior to that past action, the past perfect ('had known') is used. This emphasizes the counterfactual nature of her knowledge. 'Would know' and 'knows' do not provide the correct temporal shift for a past-tense narrative.

Q20I wish I ___ there to support you during the presentation last Tuesday.

Answer: A. had been

The phrase 'last Tuesday' establishes a past timeframe. Regrets about the past require the past perfect ('had been'). 'Would be' and 'could be' refer to present or future situations. 'Am' is the present indicative, which is never used after 'wish' to express a desire for a different state.

Q21What if she ___ the truth? Would the company have survived?

Answer: D. had known

The result clause 'Would the company have survived?' is a third conditional structure (past counterfactual). This necessitates the past perfect ('had known') in the 'what if' clause. 'Knows' or 'knew' would imply a present or future hypothetical, which is logically inconsistent with the past-oriented result.

Q22He acts as if he ___ us before, even though we are total strangers.

Answer: A. had met

The word 'before' indicates a time prior to the present 'acts'. To describe a hypothetical event that happened before the current moment, the past perfect ('had met') is used. 'Has met' would suggest it is potentially true that he met them. 'Meet' and 'meets' are present tense forms that cannot reflect the hypothetical or historical nature of the comparison.

Q23I wish you ___ be more punctual; your lateness is causing us to miss deadlines.

Answer: C. would

Using 'wish' + 'would' is the standard way to express annoyance and a desire for someone to change their habits or behavior. 'Did' would imply a counterfactual state (e.g., 'I wish you were tall') rather than a request for an action to change. 'Can' or 'had' do not fit the semantic requirement of asking for a change in behavior.

Q24Supposing he ___ late to the meeting, what would the manager have said?

Answer: D. had been

The result clause 'what would the manager have said?' is a third conditional structure. Therefore, the 'supposing' clause (the hypothetical condition) must use the past perfect ('had been'). 'Were' and 'was' represent second conditional (present/future) hypotheticals, which do not match the past-perfect result clause.

Q25Which sentence is correct regarding past regret?

Answer: B. I wish I had studied harder.

In standard English, past regrets after 'wish' are formed using the past perfect ('had' + past participle). The common error 'would have studied' is considered informal or non-standard in this context. 'I wish I study' is ungrammatical because 'wish' requires a tense backshift (moving the verb into the past).

Q26Which sentence is correct regarding present hypothetical?

Answer: C. She acts as if she knew everything.

For present-tense counterfactual statements using 'as if', the past simple ('knew') is used to denote the hypothetical mood—a state that is not true. 'Knows' would imply the speaker thinks she actually might know everything. 'Has known' and 'would know' do not follow the standard rules for present hypothetical comparisons.

Q27Which sentence is correct regarding hypothetical future?

Answer: A. Suppose you won, what would you do?

A hypothetical or unlikely future is expressed using the past simple in the premise ('won') and 'would' + infinitive in the result clause. 'Suppose you win' (present simple) would typically be followed by 'will'. 'Suppose you won, what will you do?' is a mixed conditional that is less standard in this purely hypothetical context.

Q28Which sentence is correct regarding past ability?

Answer: A. I wish I could have attended the event.

To express a regret about a past ability or opportunity, the structure 'wish' + 'could have' + past participle is used. 'I wish I had attended' is a regret about the action itself, but 'could have attended' specifically addresses the lost potential or ability. 'Would have attended' is non-standard in the 'wish' clause.

Q29Which sentence is correct regarding real possibility?

Answer: C. It looks as if it is going to rain soon.

When 'as if' describes a situation based on evidence that is likely to be true, the indicative mood (present simple or 'is going to') is used. The past simple 'rained' would imply a counterfactual that the speaker knows is false, which contradicts the visual evidence implied by 'It looks'.

Q30Which sentence is correct regarding future possibilities?

Answer: A. What if he arrives late?

'What if' followed by the present simple ('arrives') is used to discuss a realistic future possibility, functioning similarly to a first conditional. 'Had arrived' refers to the past. 'Would arrive' is generally not used in the condition clause of this structure; 'would' belongs in the result.

Q31Which sentence is correct regarding present annoyance?

Answer: C. I wish you weren't so loud.

To express annoyance with a current state of being, 'wish' + past simple (or subjunctive 'weren't') is used. While 'wish' + 'wouldn't' is used for actions/behaviors, 'weren't' is more appropriate for a state. 'Wouldn't been' is ungrammatical as 'would' must be followed by a bare infinitive or 'have'.

Q32Which sentence is correct regarding past unreal?

Answer: D. Supposing she had asked, what would you have done?

This is a third conditional structure used for past unreal/counterfactual situations. The condition clause uses the past perfect ('had asked') and the result clause uses 'would have' + past participle. Other options fail to align the tenses correctly to signify a past counterfactual event.

Q33Which sentence is correct regarding present ability?

Answer: D. I wish I could swim better.

Present ability wishes use 'could' + infinitive. 'Had swum' and 'could have swum' shift the regret to the past. 'Might swum' is ungrammatical because the modal 'might' must be followed by the base form 'swim'.

Q34Which sentence is correct regarding past hypothetical?

Answer: D. He speaks as if he had been there.

To indicate he was not actually there in the past, 'as if' is followed by the past perfect ('had been'). 'Has been' would imply he actually was there. 'Would have been' is used in result clauses, not as the hypothetical complement of 'as if'.

Q35Which is the correct version? I wish I would have known about the party earlier; I would have loved to go.

Answer: B. I wish I had known about the party earlier; I would have loved to go.

Standard grammar requires the past perfect ('had known') for past regrets in a 'wish' clause. The use of 'would have' in the 'wish' clause itself is common in informal speech but is incorrect in formal English. The second clause correctly uses the conditional perfect ('would have loved') for the past result.

Q36Which is the correct version? Suppose you would see a bear in the woods, what would you do?

Answer: A. Suppose you saw a bear in the woods, what would you do?

'Suppose' introduces a hypothetical condition, following the same tense rules as 'if'. For a present or future hypothetical, the past simple ('saw') is used in the condition clause, and 'would' is used in the result question. 'Would see' is redundant in the premise clause.

Q37Which is the correct version? She talks as if she knows the truth, but she is clearly lying.

Answer: C. She talks as if she knew the truth, but she is clearly lying.

Since the speaker clarifies the person is 'clearly lying,' the situation is counterfactual. Therefore, 'as if' must be followed by the past simple ('knew') to indicate the hypothetical mood (a state that is not true). 'Knows' is indicative and would suggest the speaker thinks she might actually know the truth.

Q38Which is the correct version? I wish you could have stopped making that noise; it's driving me crazy.

Answer: A. I wish you would stop making that noise; it's driving me crazy.

'Wish' + 'would' is the specific construction used for expressing annoyance at a current, persistent behavior. 'Could have stopped' implies a past regret, which is inconsistent with the present frustration expressed in 'it's driving me crazy'.

Q39Which is the correct version? What if you would have the chance to travel, would you go?

Answer: D. What if you had the chance to travel, would you go?

In hypothetical questions, 'what if' functions like an 'if'-clause. The past simple ('had') is used for the condition in a second conditional, and the result is expressed with 'would'. 'Would have' in the 'what if' clause is a common error involving modal redundancy. 'Having' without an auxiliary is not a grammatically valid verb form for the condition clause. 'What if you had the chance to travel, will you go?' mixes a second conditional condition with a first conditional result ('will you go'), creating an inconsistent structure.

Q40Which is the correct version? He looked as if he has seen a ghost.

Answer: C. He looked as if he had seen a ghost.

Because the main verb is in the past ('looked'), any hypothetical event preceding it must be in the past perfect ('had seen') to maintain the correct sequence of tenses and convey that the comparison is counterfactual.

Q41Which is the correct version? I wish I could be there yesterday, but I had to work.

Answer: C. I wish I could have been there yesterday, but I had to work.

Regrets about ability or opportunity in the past ('yesterday') require the structure 'wish' + 'could have' + past participle. 'Could be' refers to the present or future. 'Was' is incorrect here as it represents a simple past state rather than the required past perfect counterfactual.

Q42Which is the correct version? Supposing she didn't call, what will you do?

Answer: B. Supposing she didn't call, what would you do?

'Supposing' + past simple ('didn't call') creates a hypothetical second conditional, which requires 'would' in the result clause. 'Didn't called' is grammatically incorrect — the past simple negative uses 'didn't' + base form, not 'didn't' + past form. 'Hadn't called' (past perfect) would form a third conditional, requiring 'would have' in the result clause, not 'will'.

Q43Which is the correct version? I wish I would have more money to spend on holidays.

Answer: D. I wish I had more money to spend on holidays.

To express a desire for a different current state, 'wish' is followed by the past simple ('had'). 'Would have' is typically used when wishing for a change in behavior or a future event, and 'could had' is a morphological impossibility as modals must be followed by a base form.

Q44Which is the correct version? It acts as if it is going to be a long night.

Answer: D. It looks as if it is going to be a long night.

'It looks as if' is the standard idiomatic expression used to describe an impression or a likely outcome based on evidence. 'It acts as if' is usually reserved for animate subjects or personification. Since this is a general prediction about the night, 'looks' is the correct verb.

Q45I wish I ___ that movie last night; I heard it was terrible.

Answer: C. hadn't watched

Regret about a past event ('last night') is expressed using 'wish' + past perfect ('hadn't watched'). 'Couldn't watched' and 'didn't watched' are morphologically incorrect because 'couldn't' and 'didn't' must be followed by a base form. 'Wouldn't watch' refers to a future or habitual preference.

Wishes and Regrets Practice Test — Advanced

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All 45 questions with answers