Wish / If only – English Grammar Exercises for B2
Yearning for a more ideal living space. A young professional living far from home in a cramped, noisy apartment is dreaming of a quiet workspace and a better living environment.
Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence.
1 “This apartment is way too small. If only my living room ______ a bit more spacious.”
(A) were
(B) is
(C) be
(D) had been
2 “I can’t focus on my work at all. If only the people upstairs ______ so much noise every single day.”
(A) wouldn’t to make
(B) didn’t make
(C) hadn’t made
(D) don’t make
3 “I feel suffocated in here. If only I ______ a small balcony to get some fresh air while working.”
(A) had had
(B) having
(C) have
(D) had
4 “The cost of living here is ridiculous. If only the monthly rent for this tiny place ______ so incredibly high.”
(A) weren’t
(B) wouldn’t
(C) isn’t
(D) wasn’t be
5 “There are sirens going off constantly. If only the street outside my window ______ so busy with traffic.”
(A) wasn’t
(B) aren’t
(C) not be
(D) had been
6 “My back aches from sitting on the bed. If only there ______ enough room in this corner for a proper ergonomic desk.”
(A) is
(B) would be
(C) are
(D) were
7 “I can hear everything my neighbors say. If only the walls in this building ______ paper-thin.”
(A) weren’t
(B) aren’t
(C) haven’t been
(D) wasn’t
8 “Working remotely is a nightmare here. If only I ______ a peaceful environment to focus on my approaching deadlines.”
(A) can found
(B) could find
(C) couldn’t find
(D) can find
9 “Looking at the brick wall opposite my window is depressing. If only this studio apartment ______ access to a small green garden.”
(A) includes
(B) included
(C) including
(D) excluded
10 “The heating hasn’t worked for a week. If only my landlord ______ about the living conditions of his tenants.”
(A) neglected
(B) cared
(C) did cared
(D) cares
11 “I am so exhausted by the city’s chaos. If only I ______ closer to the countryside instead of this concrete jungle.”
(A) left
(B) living
(C) lived
(D) live
12 “Every time I speak in a meeting, the noise starts. If only the dog next door ______ barking whenever I join a Zoom call.”
(A) stopped
(B) stops
(C) would to stop
(D) started
13 “My apartment is incredibly gloomy. If only this room ______ more natural sunlight during the day.”
(A) received
(B) receives
(C) did received
(D) rejected
14 “The building shakes every ten minutes. If only the subway trains ______ right under my floorboards.”
(A) don’t run
(B) didn’t run
(C) aren’t run
(D) hadn’t run
15 “I really need a better workspace. If only I ______ to upgrade to a soundproof apartment right now.”
(A) could afforded
(B) could afford
(C) can afford
(D) couldn’t afford
16 “I have zero privacy during my work hours. If only I ______ to share this cramped space with three other noisy people.”
(A) hadn’t to
(B) had
(C) don’t have
(D) didn’t have
17 “The smog is terrible today. If only the air quality in this part of the city ______ so heavily polluted.”
(A) weren’t
(B) wasn’t to be
(C) isn’t
(D) were
18 “I feel completely trapped. If only my financial situation ______ better, I would move out tomorrow.”
(A) is
(B) would be
(C) were
(D) are
19 “I am stuck in a terrible one-year contract. If only I ______ a way to break this lease without losing my security deposit.”
(A) knew
(B) had known
(C) known
(D) know
20 “I am suffocating in this tiny box. If only I ______ a spacious house overlooking the ocean instead.”
(A) own
(B) owed
(C) was owned
(D) owned
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (A)
- Why it is correct (Key): “Were” (or “was”) is the correct Past Simple form to express a wish contrary to the present reality. In formal B2/C1 grammar, “were” is preferred for all subjects (the subjunctive mood).
- Distractor Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake (using Present Simple); (C) is a Structural Error (using bare infinitive); (D) is a Meaning Trap (Past Perfect expresses a past regret, not a present wish).
2 (B)
- Why it is correct (Key): Negative Past Simple (“didn’t make”) correctly expresses the desire for an ongoing present situation to stop.
- Distractor Analysis: (D) is a Common Mistake (using Present Simple); (A) is a Structural Error (“wouldn’t to make”); (C) is a Meaning Trap (refers to the past).
3 (D)
- Why it is correct (Key): Past Simple (“had”) indicates an unreal present desire.
- Distractor Analysis: (C) is a Common Mistake; (B) is a Structural Error; (A) is a Meaning Trap (Past Perfect “had had” implies wishing you possessed it in the past, but the context requires a present wish).
4 (A)
- Why it is correct (Key): “Weren’t” correctly states a wish opposite to the current fact (the rent is high).
- Distractor Analysis: (C) is a Common Mistake; (D) is a Structural Error; (B) is a Meaning Trap (“wouldn’t” needs a main verb and is typically used for behaviors, not states like rent).
5 (A)
- Why it is correct (Key): “Wasn’t” (or “weren’t”) correctly expresses an unreal present state.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error; (D) is a Meaning Trap (changes the meaning to a past regret).
6 (D)
- Why it is correct (Key): “Were” contradicts the present reality that there is not enough room.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error (plural verb with singular noun “room”); (B) is a Meaning Trap (“would be” is rarely used with “there is/are” state situations).
7 (A)
- Why it is correct (Key): Negative Past Simple (“weren’t”) for plural noun “walls” indicating a wish against a present fact.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake; (D) is a Structural Error (singular verb for plural subject); (C) is a Meaning Trap.
8 (B)
- Why it is correct (Key): “Could find” is the past form of “can find,” used to wish for a present ability or possibility.
- Distractor Analysis: (D) is a Common Mistake; (A) is a Structural Error (“can” + past tense verb); (C) is a Meaning Trap (wishing you couldn’t find it is illogical).
9 (B)
- Why it is correct (Key): Past Simple (“included”) for an unreal present desire.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error; (D) is a Meaning Trap (“excluded” means to keep out, contradicting the desire for a garden).
10 (B)
- Why it is correct (Key): Past Simple (“cared”) shows a wish for the landlord’s current attitude to be different.
- Distractor Analysis: (D) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error (“did cared” uses double past markers); (A) is a Meaning Trap (“neglected” implies wishing the landlord would ignore the issue).
11 (C)
- Why it is correct (Key): Past Simple (“lived”) contradicts the present fact of living in the city.
- Distractor Analysis: (D) is a Common Mistake; (B) is a Structural Error; (A) is a Meaning Trap (“left” sounds similar but means to depart, which doesn’t fit the preposition “closer to”).
12 (A)
- Why it is correct (Key): Past Simple (“stopped”) expresses a strong wish for a current annoyance to end.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error; (D) is a Meaning Trap (wishing the dog “started” barking makes no sense contextually).
13 (A)
- Why it is correct (Key): Past Simple (“received”) to express a wish for the present.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error; (D) is a Meaning Trap (“rejected” contradicts the desire for sunlight).
14 (B)
- Why it is correct (Key): Negative Past Simple (“didn’t run”) contradicts the current reality.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error; (D) is a Meaning Trap (past regret).
15 (B)
- Why it is correct (Key): “Could afford” is the correct hypothetical form for present ability.
- Distractor Analysis: (C) is a Common Mistake; (A) is a Structural Error (“could” + past verb); (D) is a Meaning Trap (negative meaning contradicts the wish).
16 (D)
- Why it is correct (Key): “Didn’t have” is the correct negative Past Simple of “have to” (obligation).
- Distractor Analysis: (C) is a Common Mistake; (A) is a Structural Error (archaic/incorrect negation of “have to”); (B) is a Meaning Trap (wishing you had to share it is illogical).
17 (A)
- Why it is correct (Key): “Weren’t” contradicts the current polluted state of the air.
- Distractor Analysis: (C) is a Common Mistake; (B) is a Structural Error; (D) is a Meaning Trap (wishing it were polluted is illogical).
18 (C)
- Why it is correct (Key): “Were” is the formal subjunctive form for unreal present states.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (D) is a Structural Error (plural verb for singular subject); (B) is a Meaning Trap (“would be” is not used after “if only” for state verbs like “to be” when referring to oneself/situations).
19 (A)
- Why it is correct (Key): Past Simple (“knew”) expresses an unreal present state of knowledge.
- Distractor Analysis: (D) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error; (B) is a Meaning Trap (“had known” means you wish you knew in the past, but the context shows the speaker is currently stuck and needs a way out now).
20 (D)
- Why it is correct (Key): Past Simple (“owned”) for an unreal present desire.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error (passive voice makes no sense here); (B) is a Meaning Trap (“owed” means being in debt, which is a vocabulary trick).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Unreal Present: When you want a present situation to be different, use If only + Past Simple. Although the verb is in the past tense, the meaning refers to the present or future.
- “If only” vs. “I wish”: Both structures use the same grammar rules, but If only is generally more emphatic and dramatic. It carries a heavier emotional weight, perfect for complaining about difficult living conditions.
- The Subjunctive “Were”: In formal English (especially at B2/C1 levels), were is used instead of was for all subjects after wish and if only (e.g., If only my apartment were bigger).
- Common Mistakes: The most frequent error learners make is using the Present Simple (e.g., If only I have…) because they are thinking about a present situation. Always remember to backshift the tense to the past to show that the situation is hypothetical (unreal).
- Ability in the Present: If you are wishing for an ability you currently do not have, use could + bare infinitive (e.g., If only I could afford it).