Choose the correct Assertive form of the following Exclamatory sentence:
If only our flat had a balcony facing the hills!
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → I wish our flat had a balcony facing the hills.
Exclamatory to assertive (“If only” to “I wish”):
- An exclamatory sentence shows a strong feeling, such as joy, surprise or sorrow, and ends with an exclamation mark.
- An assertive sentence states a fact or an opinion and ends with a full stop.
| Change | Exclamatory | Assertive | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening words | If only | I wish | “If only our flat had ...” is a wish about the present. “If only” becomes “I wish”. |
| End mark | (!) | (.) | An assertive sentence ends with a full stop. |
| Full sentence | If only our flat had a balcony facing the hills! | I wish our flat had a balcony facing the hills. |
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: I wish our flat has a balcony facing the hills. — Incorrect. It changes “had” to “has”. After “I wish”, a wish about the present uses the past form.
Option 2: Our flat has a balcony facing the hills. — Incorrect. It drops the wish and says that the flat already has such a balcony.
Option 3: I wish our flat will have a balcony facing the hills. — Incorrect. It uses “will have”. “I wish” is not followed by “will” for a wish about the present.