Wish / If only – English Grammar Exercises for B2
A student is complaining to their family on the phone about their roommate’s unhygienic habits (constantly leaving dirty dishes piled up in the sink for days).
Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence.
1 “Mom, it’s disgusting! I wish he ______ his dirty plates in the sink for days.”
(A) doesn’t leave
(B) hadn’t left
(C) wouldn’t leave
(D) wouldn’t to leave
2 “If only he ______ his own mess just once in a while. It drives me crazy!”
(A) will clean up
(B) would clean up
(C) would cleaning up
(D) could have cleaned up
3 “I really wish my roommate ______ doing the dishes until the weekend.”
(A) isn’t postponing
(B) would postpone
(C) wouldn’t postpones
(D) wouldn’t postpone
4 “The kitchen smells awful. I wish he ______ out the trash more often.”
(A) would take
(B) takes
(C) would taken
(D) had taken
5 “If only he ______ expecting me to be his personal maid!”
(A) stops
(B) would start
(C) would stop
(D) would stops
6 “Every single morning, I find crusty pans on the stove. I wish he ______ them right after cooking.”
(A) washes
(B) would wash
(C) wouldn’t wash
(D) would washing
7 “I’ve told him a hundred times. If only he ______ to my requests about basic hygiene.”
(A) will listen
(B) would listened
(C) had listened
(D) would listen
8 “He always says he’ll do it later. I wish he ______ making empty promises.”
(A) would quit
(B) quits
(C) would to quit
(D) wouldn’t quit
9 “It’s so frustrating! I wish he ______ his part of the chores instead of playing video games all night.”
(A) does
(B) wouldn’t do
(C) would do
(D) would done
10 “If only he ______ his dirty mugs all over the living room table.”
(A) doesn’t scatter
(B) wouldn’t scatter
(C) wouldn’t scattering
(D) would scatter
11 “I can’t stand the smell anymore. I wish he ______ food rotting in the fridge.”
(A) wouldn’t leave
(B) won’t leave
(C) wouldn’t left
(D) wouldn’t have left
12 “He always ignores the chore wheel. If only he ______ it seriously for once.”
(A) takes
(B) wouldn’t take
(C) would take
(D) would to take
13 “I am so exhausted from cleaning up after him. I wish he ______ some basic respect for our shared space.”
(A) would show
(B) will show
(C) would showing
(D) had shown
14 “Whenever I ask him to wash up, he just walks away. I wish he ______ ignoring me.”
(A) has stopped
(B) would stop
(C) would stops
(D) would continue
15 “It’s infuriating! If only he ______ an ounce of initiative to buy dish soap when it runs out.”
(A) takes
(B) would took
(C) took
(D) would take
16 “I wish he ______ the habit of rinsing his plates before the leftover food hardens like concrete.”
(A) would develop
(B) develops
(C) would developed
(D) would abandon
17 “If only he ______ a mountain of greasy containers every time he orders takeout.”
(A) doesn’t create
(B) wouldn’t creates
(C) had created
(D) wouldn’t create
18 “I’m at my wit’s end! I wish he ______ responsibility instead of always blaming his heavy study schedule.”
(A) will accept
(B) would accept
(C) would to accept
(D) hadn’t accepted
19 “If only he ______ his dirty utensils in the soapy water I specifically prepared for him.”
(A) soaks
(B) would soaking
(C) wouldn’t soak
(D) would soak
20 “I honestly wish he ______ out and find his own place if he absolutely refuses to clean up.”
(A) moves
(B) would moved
(C) would have moved
(D) would move
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C)
- Why it is correct (Key): We use Wish + someone + wouldn’t + V to complain about a bad habit in the present.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake (learners often use Present Simple); (D) is a Structural Error (would must be followed by a bare infinitive, not “to leave”); (B) is a Meaning Trap (Past Perfect is used for past regrets, not current annoying habits).
2 (B)
- Why it is correct (Key): Expresses a strong desire for someone to change their behavior (clean up).
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake (using “will”); (C) is a Structural Error (would + V-ing); (D) is a Meaning Trap (“could have cleaned up” refers to a past possibility, missing the complaining tone).
3 (D)
- Why it is correct (Key): Negating the annoying habit of postponing.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error (wouldn’t + verb with “s”); (B) is a Meaning Trap (opposite meaning: wishing he would postpone).
4 (A)
- Why it is correct (Key): Expresses a desire for the action (“take out the trash”) to happen more frequently.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error; (D) is a Meaning Trap (complaining about a present habit, not a past regret).
5 (C)
- Why it is correct (Key): Annoyed and wanting the roommate to “stop expecting” to be served.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (D) is a Structural Error; (B) is a Meaning Trap (“would start” changes the context entirely to an illogical wish).
6 (B)
- Why it is correct (Key): Uses would wash to show a strong desire for the person to wash the pans immediately.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (D) is a Structural Error; (C) is a Meaning Trap (“wouldn’t wash” means wishing he wouldn’t wash them, which is illogical).
7 (D)
- Why it is correct (Key): Correct complaining structure “would listen”.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (B) is a Structural Error (would + V-ed); (C) is a Meaning Trap (had listened = past regret, not a present complaint).
8 (A)
- Why it is correct (Key): Wishing someone would “quit” making empty promises.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error; (D) is a Meaning Trap (“wouldn’t quit” = wishing he wouldn’t stop, which is incorrect contextually).
9 (C)
- Why it is correct (Key): Emphasizes the desire for the other person to proactively “do” their chores.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (D) is a Structural Error; (B) is a Meaning Trap.
10 (B)
- Why it is correct (Key): Complaining about the habit of scattering dirty mugs everywhere (wouldn’t scatter).
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error; (D) is a Meaning Trap (“would scatter” = wishing he would make a mess).
11 (A)
- Why it is correct (Key): Wishing he wouldn’t leave rotting food in the fridge.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake (“won’t” is never used after wish); (C) is a Structural Error; (D) is a Meaning Trap.
12 (C)
- Why it is correct (Key): Shows impatience, wishing he would take the chore wheel seriously.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (D) is a Structural Error; (B) is a Meaning Trap.
13 (A)
- Why it is correct (Key): Longing for a change in behavior (would show respect).
- Distractor Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error; (D) is a Meaning Trap.
14 (B)
- Why it is correct (Key): Wanting him to immediately stop the action of ignoring.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error; (D) is a Meaning Trap (“continue” completely alters the intended complaint to something illogical).
15 (D)
- Why it is correct (Key): Extreme frustration, wishing the roommate would take initiative.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (B) is a Structural Error; (C) is a Meaning Trap (Using “took” makes it a general unreal wish in the present, lacking the strong, impatient complaining tone of “would take”).
16 (A)
- Why it is correct (Key): Longing for him to develop a good habit.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error; (D) is a Meaning Trap (“abandon” = give up the habit of washing, which is opposite to what is wanted).
17 (D)
- Why it is correct (Key): Complaining about him creating a mountain of greasy containers.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (B) is a Structural Error; (C) is a Meaning Trap.
18 (B)
- Why it is correct (Key): Frustrated and demanding that he accept responsibility.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error; (D) is a Meaning Trap.
19 (D)
- Why it is correct (Key): Wishing he would soak the utensils in soapy water.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (B) is a Structural Error; (C) is a Meaning Trap.
20 (D)
- Why it is correct (Key): A harsh concluding remark: Wishing he would move out if he absolutely refuses to clean up.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (B) is a Structural Error; (C) is a Meaning Trap.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Specialized Grammatical Function: The Wish / If only + someone + would + V structure is not just a simple hypothetical condition; it carries strong emotion. It is specifically used to criticize or complain about someone else’s annoying, repeated habits and expresses a desire for immediate behavioral change.
- The Subject Rule: This structure is generally NOT used with the subjects “I” or “We” (you don’t normally say I wish I would…). The frustration must be directed at another entity (he, she, they, my roommate, etc.).
- Common Mistakes: B2 learners often mistakenly use the Present Simple or Future Simple (will) to fill in the blanks because they translate word-by-word from their native language. Remember that “will” or present tenses are never used after “Wish/If only”.
- Meaning Traps: In advanced grammar exams, examiners often trap test-takers by providing an option that is grammatically correct but logically opposite to the context (e.g., choosing “wouldn’t wash” when you are annoyed that your friend isn’t washing dishes). Therefore, always read the situational context carefully before making a final decision.