Wish / If only – English Grammar Exercises for B2
Closing a real estate deal. A real estate agent is losing patience with an indecisive client who constantly changes their mind and hesitates to sign the contract.
Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence.
1 “You have seen over twenty houses this month. I wish you ______ your mind about this property so we can proceed.”
(A) make up
(B) wouldn’t make up
(C) would make up
(D) would made up
2 “The seller is demanding an answer. If only you ______ a final decision by the end of today.”
(A) reach
(B) would reach
(C) would to reach
(D) had reached
3 “This house is perfectly aligned with your criteria. I wish you ______ second-guessing every single detail.”
(A) will stop
(B) stopped
(C) wouldn’t stop
(D) would stop
4 “Another buyer is showing serious interest. If only you ______ the contract right now to secure the deal.”
(A) would sign
(B) will sign
(C) would signing
(D) wouldn’t sign
5 “I have held this listing for you for a week. I wish you ______ me a clear ‘yes’ or ‘no’ so I know how to proceed.”
(A) give
(B) had given
(C) would give
(D) would gave
6 “You’ve viewed this apartment five times and loved it each time. If only you ______ to buy it today.”
(A) commit
(B) would commit
(C) would committed
(D) would decline
7 “The real estate market is moving incredibly fast. I wish you ______ action before the seller withdraws their offer.”
(A) will take
(B) took
(C) wouldn’t take
(D) would take
8 “This is a fantastic investment opportunity. If only you ______ hesitating and trust my professional advice.”
(A) would stop
(B) stopped
(C) would to stop
(D) would continue
9 “It is very difficult to find the right house when the criteria keep shifting. I wish you ______ changing your preferences every time we view a new listing.”
(A) don’t keep
(B) would keep
(C) wouldn’t keep
(D) wouldn’t kept
10 “We have explored the entire city. If only you ______ on a specific neighborhood so I can narrow down our search.”
(A) settle
(B) would settle
(C) will settle
(D) wouldn’t settle
11 “We are running out of time to secure this interest rate. I wish you ______ the signed paperwork to my office this afternoon.”
(A) returned
(B) wouldn’t return
(C) would returning
(D) would return
12 “This property is structurally sound. If only you ______ focusing on the minor cosmetic issues and look at the overall value.”
(A) would quit
(B) quit
(C) would to quit
(D) wouldn’t quit
13 “The owners want an answer immediately. If only you ______ their counteroffer before someone else grabs it.”
(A) would accepted
(B) accept
(C) would accept
(D) would reject
14 “It is exhausting to constantly start over. I wish you ______ asking to see properties that are wildly outside your budget.”
(A) don’t persist in
(B) wouldn’t persist in
(C) wouldn’t persisted in
(D) would persist in
15 “Everything is in place. If only you ______ the trigger and finalize this purchase before the rates go up.”
(A) would pull
(B) pulled
(C) had pulled
(D) would pulling
16 “We need to submit the deposit by 5 PM. I wish you ______ off the fence and tell me which of the two properties you prefer.”
(A) came
(B) will come
(C) wouldn’t come
(D) would come
17 “This negotiation is dragging on forever. If only you ______ your foot down and make a firm, final offer.”
(A) put
(B) would put
(C) would putted
(D) wouldn’t put
18 “We are going around in circles here. I wish you ______ back and forth on the closing date.”
(A) didn’t go
(B) would go
(C) wouldn’t go
(D) wouldn’t went
19 “The inspection report is actually very clean. If only you ______ the plunge instead of overanalyzing every minor scratch.”
(A) would take
(B) took
(C) had taken
(D) would to take
20 “I can only hold this reservation for another 24 hours. I wish you ______ me hanging and just give me a straight answer.”
(A) won’t leave
(B) wouldn’t left
(C) would leave
(D) wouldn’t leave
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C)
- Why it is correct (Key): Wish + someone + would + V (would make up) correctly expresses impatience and a strong desire for the client to decide.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake (using Present Simple); (D) is a Structural Error (would + past tense verb); (B) is a Meaning Trap (wishing they wouldn’t make up their mind contradicts the agent’s goal).
2 (B)
- Why it is correct (Key): Urges the client to take future/immediate action (would reach).
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake (Present Simple); (C) is a Structural Error (adding “to” after would); (D) is a Meaning Trap (Past Perfect refers to a past regret, but the agent wants action today).
3 (D)
- Why it is correct (Key): Expresses annoyance and a demand to cease an action (would stop).
- Distractor Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake (Past Simple is for general unreal present, but “would” is specifically required to show annoyance/urging); (A) is a Structural Error (will cannot follow wish); (C) is a Meaning Trap.
4 (A)
- Why it is correct (Key): Pressuring the client to sign the contract now.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake (will); (C) is a Structural Error (would + V-ing); (D) is a Meaning Trap (wishing they wouldn’t sign).
5 (C)
- Why it is correct (Key): Desiring a decisive response from the client.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (D) is a Structural Error (would + past tense); (B) is a Meaning Trap (regretting the past instead of urging the present).
6 (B)
- Why it is correct (Key): Urging the client to make a commitment.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error; (D) is a Meaning Trap (wishing they would decline ruins the deal).
7 (D)
- Why it is correct (Key): “Would take action” is the correct structure for urging a partner to act.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake; (A) is a Structural Error (“will” is invalid here); (C) is a Meaning Trap.
8 (A)
- Why it is correct (Key): Expressing a wish for an annoying behavior (hesitating) to cease.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error; (D) is a Meaning Trap.
9 (C)
- Why it is correct (Key): The negative form wouldn’t + keep shows frustration over a repeated, annoying action.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake (don’t); (D) is a Structural Error (wouldn’t + past tense); (B) is a Meaning Trap.
10 (B)
- Why it is correct (Key): Urging the client to finally choose a neighborhood.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error/Common Mistake; (D) is a Meaning Trap.
11 (D)
- Why it is correct (Key): Applying pressure to return the paperwork soon.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error; (B) is a Meaning Trap.
12 (A)
- Why it is correct (Key): Annoyance with the client focusing on the wrong things.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error; (D) is a Meaning Trap.
13 (C)
- Why it is correct (Key): Pushing the client to accept the offer before it’s too late.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake; (A) is a Structural Error; (D) is a Meaning Trap.
14 (B)
- Why it is correct (Key): Complaining about a stubborn habit.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error; (D) is a Meaning Trap.
15 (A)
- Why it is correct (Key): “Pull the trigger” is an idiom for making a final decision. Would pull fits the urging tone.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake; (D) is a Structural Error; (C) is a Meaning Trap (Past Perfect means the opportunity is already gone, but the agent says “before the rates go up,” implying it’s still possible).
16 (D)
- Why it is correct (Key): “Come off the fence” is an idiom meaning to make a choice.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (B) is a Structural Error; (C) is a Meaning Trap.
17 (B)
- Why it is correct (Key): “Put your foot down” means to act firmly.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (C) is a Structural Error (“putted” is invalid, past of put is put); (D) is a Meaning Trap.
18 (C)
- Why it is correct (Key): Frustration with the client wavering (going back and forth).
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (D) is a Structural Error (wouldn’t went); (B) is a Meaning Trap.
19 (A)
- Why it is correct (Key): “Take the plunge” is an idiom for committing to a big step.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) is a Common Mistake; (D) is a Structural Error; (C) is a Meaning Trap.
20 (D)
- Why it is correct (Key): “Leave someone hanging” means to keep someone waiting for an answer. The negative wouldn’t leave expresses the agent’s plea.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) is a Common Mistake; (B) is a Structural Error; (C) is a Meaning Trap.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Function over Form: While “Wish” clauses are generally categorized as “Unreal Past” because they deal with hypothetical situations, the structure Wish / If only + someone + would + bare infinitive specifically points to the present or future. It is highly functional, used to show exasperation, impatience, and to gently but firmly urge someone to change their behavior.
- The “Will” Prohibition: A classic error for B2 learners is translating directly from their native language and using “will” or “won’t” after wish/if only to refer to the future (e.g., I wish you will sign). Grammatically, the auxiliary must shift back to would.
- Past Simple vs. Would: You can use the Past Simple after wish to express regret about a present state (e.g., I wish you knew the answer). However, when dealing with actions that you want another person to actively change right now—especially when you are annoyed—would + V is the superior, more natural choice (e.g., I wish you would make a decision).
- Idioms of Decision Making: In advanced business/everyday English, decision-making is often expressed through idioms. Familiarize yourself with phrases like pull the trigger (make a final decision), take the plunge (commit to a big action), come off the fence (stop hesitating), and leave someone hanging (fail to give someone an answer). Test creators love to combine these idioms with advanced grammar structures.