Select the most appropriate option to replace the underlined part of the sentence:
Shivering on the Mall Road in Mussoorie, Meera wished she brought her woollen shawl from the hotel.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → had brought
“Wish” about the past:
- To show regret about something in the past, we use wish + had + past participle (V3).
- The given sentence says “wished she brought”. This is wrong: the simple past after “wish” is used for a wish about the present. Meera is sorry about something she did not do earlier, so “had brought” is needed.
- Complete sentence: Shivering on the Mall Road in Mussoorie, Meera wished she had brought her woollen shawl from the hotel.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: has brought — Incorrect. “Has brought” is the present perfect. It is not used after “wish”. Example: Papa has brought pedas from Mathura.
Option 2: would bring — Incorrect. “Wish ... would” is used when we want someone to do something in the future. Here Meera is sorry about the past. Example: Dadi wishes the vegetable seller would bring fresh coriander every day.
Option 3: was bringing — Incorrect. “Was bringing” is the past continuous. It shows an action going on at a past time, not a regret. Example: Riya was bringing the tea when the lights went off.