Choose the correct option to fill in the blank:
Meera failed her driving test last week. Now she wishes she ______ to her instructor more carefully.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → had listened
“Wish” about the past:
- To show regret about something in the past, we use wish + past perfect (had + past participle (V3)).
- Meera did not listen carefully before the test, and now she is sorry.
- Clue word: “failed ... last week” shows the regret is about a past event.
- Complete sentence: Meera failed her driving test last week. Now she wishes she had listened to her instructor more carefully.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: listens — Incorrect.
- “Listens” is the simple present.
- A verb after “wish” does not take the simple present.
- Example: Tara listens to old film songs every night.
Option 2: will listen — Incorrect.
- “Will listen” is the simple future.
- It looks ahead, but the regret here is about a test already over.
- Example: I will listen to the news after dinner.
Option 4: has listened — Incorrect.
- “Has listened” is the present perfect: has / have + V3.
- “Wish” about the past takes had + V3, not has + V3.
- Example: Dev has listened to this podcast twice.