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Souhaits et regrets : I wish, if only
I wish / if only + prétérit (souhait sur le présent), + past perfect (regret sur le passé), + would (reproche, souhait de changement), comparaison avec les conditionnels, emplois à l'oral et à l'écrit
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Choisis ton niveau. Questions et réponses mélangées à chaque partie. Bonne chance !
Les 36 questions du QCM en version texte
Pour réviser sans écran ou imprimer : chaque question avec ses propositions ; la bonne réponse et son explication se déplient.
Niveau facile — 12 questions
I don't have a bike. I wish I ___ a bike.
- A. have
- B. had
- C. will have
- D. would had
Réponse
B. had — Souhait sur le présent : wish + prétérit (had).
« If only » se traduit par…
- A. Si seulement
- B. Seulement si
- C. Même si
- D. Sauf si
Réponse
A. Si seulement — If only = si seulement ; « seulement si » se dit only if.
Which tense follows I wish to express a regret about the past?
- A. the present simple
- B. the preterite
- C. the past perfect
- D. the future
Réponse
C. the past perfect — Regret passé : wish + past perfect (had + participe passé).
I can't dance. I wish I ___ dance.
- A. could
- B. can
- C. should
- D. will
Réponse
A. could — can recule au passé : could.
My school is far from my house. I wish it ___ closer.
- A. is
- B. was being
- C. were
- D. will be
Réponse
C. were — be → were après wish (was est accepté à l'oral).
Which sentence expresses a reproach?
- A. I wish I lived by the sea.
- B. I wish you would knock first.
- C. I wish I had seen that film sooner.
- D. I hope you enjoy your meal.
Réponse
B. I wish you would knock first. — wish + would + base verbale : on reproche un comportement à quelqu'un.
« Je regrette de ne pas avoir appelé. »
- A. I wish I called.
- B. I hope I called.
- C. I wish I wouldn't call.
- D. I wish I had called.
Réponse
D. I wish I had called. — Regret sur un fait passé → past perfect : had called.
I didn't practise enough before the concert. If only I ___ more!
- A. practised
- B. have practised
- C. had practised
- D. would practise
Réponse
C. had practised — Fait passé → if only + past perfect.
I wish + would is mainly used to…
- A. regret an action from the past
- B. predict a future event for sure
- C. describe an old habit
- D. complain about a behaviour
Réponse
D. complain about a behaviour — wish + would exprime l'agacement face à un comportement qu'on voudrait voir changer.
I ___ you a happy birthday!
- A. hope
- B. wish
- C. want
- D. would
Réponse
B. wish — wish + personne + nom = souhaiter quelque chose à quelqu'un (formule).
She isn't here. If only she ___ here!
- A. were
- B. is
- C. be
- D. has been
Réponse
A. were — Situation présente irréelle : prétérit, were à toutes les personnes.
I ate too many crisps and now I feel sick. Which regret is correct?
- A. I wish I didn't eat so many.
- B. I wish I don't eat so many.
- C. I wish I wouldn't eat so many.
- D. I wish I hadn't eaten so many.
Réponse
D. I wish I hadn't eaten so many. — Fait terminé → hadn't + participe passé (eaten).
Niveau moyen — 12 questions
My sister always borrows my clothes without asking. I wish she ___.
- A. asks first
- B. will ask first
- C. would ask first
- D. had asked me first
Réponse
C. would ask first — Habitude agaçante d'une autre personne → would + base verbale.
It's broken again and I need it now. If only I ___ how to fix this computer!
- A. know
- B. had known
- C. knew
- D. would know
Réponse
C. knew — Souhait sur le présent (now) → prétérit : knew.
Which expression can replace « I wish » in « I wish I had more friends » without changing the tense?
- A. Only if
- B. If only
- C. I hope
- D. Unless
Réponse
B. If only — If only se construit comme wish, avec les mêmes temps.
The film was terrible. I wish I ___ it.
- A. didn't watch
- B. wouldn't watch
- C. hadn't watched
- D. don't watch
Réponse
C. hadn't watched — Regret sur un fait passé → hadn't watched.
Which sentence is incorrect?
- A. I wish I have a car.
- B. I wish I had a car.
- C. I wish you would drive more slowly.
- D. If only I had bought a car!
Réponse
A. I wish I have a car. — Jamais de présent après wish : I wish I had a car.
I got sunburnt at the beach. I wish I ___ some sun cream.
- A. put
- B. would put
- C. have put
- D. had put
Réponse
D. had put — Regret passé → past perfect : had put (put est invariable).
« I have to get up at 6 every day. » Which wish is correct?
- A. I wish I don't have to get up at 6.
- B. I wish I haven't to get up at 6.
- C. I wish I wouldn't have to get up at 6.
- D. I wish I didn't have to get up at 6.
Réponse
D. I wish I didn't have to get up at 6. — have to recule au prétérit : didn't have to.
The bus is late again and it's freezing. I wish it ___!
- A. arrives
- B. has arrived
- C. will arrive
- D. would arrive
Réponse
D. would arrive — Impatience devant une situation qu'on ne contrôle pas → would + base verbale.
In « I wish I'd listened to you », 'd means…
- A. would
- B. had
- C. did
- D. could
Réponse
B. had — 'd suivi d'un participe passé (listened) = had.
The forecast says it may be sunny tomorrow. I ___ it will be.
- A. wish
- B. hope
- C. would
- D. wished
Réponse
B. hope — Souhait réalisable, au futur → hope.
They missed the last train home. They wish they ___ it.
- A. hadn't missed
- B. didn't miss
- C. wouldn't miss
- D. haven't missed
Réponse
A. hadn't missed — Regret passé → hadn't + participe passé.
« I wish I could have come to your party » means…
- A. J'aurais aimé pouvoir venir.
- B. J'aimerais bien pouvoir venir.
- C. Je pourrai sans doute venir.
- D. Je suis content d'être venu.
Réponse
A. J'aurais aimé pouvoir venir. — could have + participe passé = regret passé : « j'aurais aimé pouvoir ».
Niveau difficile — 12 questions
In which sentence does 'd mean « would »?
- A. I wish I'd seen the match.
- B. If only we'd left earlier!
- C. I wish they'd help more.
- D. I wish you'd told me sooner.
Réponse
C. I wish they'd help more. — 'd + base verbale (help) = would ; 'd + participe passé (seen, left, told) = had.
Which sentence is correct?
- A. I wish I would speak Chinese.
- B. I wish I could speak Chinese.
- C. I wish I can speak Chinese.
- D. I wish I will be able to speak Chinese.
Réponse
B. I wish I could speak Chinese. — Pas de would avec le même sujet, pas de présent ni de futur : could.
« I wish you didn't bite your nails » / « I wish you would stop biting your nails »: what is the difference?
- A. The first states a fact I dislike; the second asks for a change.
- B. The first is about the past, and the second is about the present.
- C. The first is a real wish, the second is an impossible wish.
- D. There is no difference: both refer to the future.
Réponse
A. The first states a fact I dislike; the second asks for a change. — Le prétérit constate une situation qui déplaît ; would réclame un changement, sur un ton de reproche.
Now I understand the rules of rugby, but at the match last week I didn't. What do you say?
- A. I wish I knew them then.
- B. I wish I know them then.
- C. I wish I would know them then.
- D. I wish I had known them then.
Réponse
D. I wish I had known them then. — Le souhait porte sur le passé (last week, then) → past perfect.
Which sentence expresses a wish that can really come true?
- A. I wish it would snow.
- B. I hope it snows tomorrow.
- C. If only it snowed here in winter!
- D. I wish it had snowed.
Réponse
B. I hope it snows tomorrow. — Hope + présent = souhait réalisable ; wish et if only expriment l'irréel ou l'impatience.
« I wish I had taken a map. » Which conditional sentence has the same meaning?
- A. If I had taken a map, I wouldn't have got lost.
- B. If I took a map with me, I wouldn't get lost now.
- C. If I take a map with me tomorrow, I won't get lost.
- D. If I would take a map, I would have not got lost.
Réponse
A. If I had taken a map, I wouldn't have got lost. — Même temps après wish et après if : had taken (irréel du passé).
Which sentence is a complete and correct wish?
- A. If I had more money!
- B. If only I have more money!
- C. If only I would have more money!
- D. If only I had more money!
Réponse
D. If only I had more money! — If only + prétérit forme une exclamation complète ; if seul attend une principale.
« I wish! » as a short reply means…
- A. J'aimerais bien !
- B. Je te le souhaite !
- C. Je le regrette !
- D. Je l'espère !
Réponse
A. J'aimerais bien ! — I wish! = j'aimerais bien (mais c'est peu probable).
« Tu pourrais ranger ta chambre, à la fin ! »
- A. I wish you tidied your room.
- B. I wish you would tidy your room.
- C. I wish you had tidied your room.
- D. I hope you tidy your room.
Réponse
B. I wish you would tidy your room. — Reproche, demande de changement → would + base verbale.
Which sentence is WRONG?
- A. If only I had listened to her!
- B. I wish I lived in Scotland.
- C. If only I hadn't lose my wallet!
- D. I hope you'll feel better soon, Tom.
Réponse
C. If only I hadn't lose my wallet! — Le past perfect exige le participe passé : hadn't lost.
Which sentence refers to the PRESENT?
- A. I wish I had been there.
- B. If only you had told me earlier!
- C. I wish I hadn't shouted.
- D. I wish I were there with you.
Réponse
D. I wish I were there with you. — Prétérit (were) = souhait sur le présent ; past perfect = regret passé.
Which sentence means « Je regrette que tu sois parti » ?
- A. I wish you didn't leave.
- B. I wish you would leave soon.
- C. I wish you hadn't left.
- D. I hope you have left.
Réponse
C. I wish you hadn't left. — Départ passé, regretté → hadn't left.
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