Question

Choose the correct word/phrase to complete the sentence.
It is raining hard. I wish I ______ an umbrella.

• A. have
• B. has
• C. had
• D. hadn't

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

had

The word "wish" is used with something that isn't true or real currently. It is called the subjunctive mood. When we need to express a wish for the present, the past tense has to be used. The use of the past tense indicates that it is not a reality in the present.

In the given sentence: It is raining hard. And the speaker does not have an umbrella. "Had" is the past tense of the verb "have". The phrase, "I wish I had an umbrella " means "I would like to have an umbrella, however, I don't have one presently". Hence, option C is correct.

Options A and B: The verb, "have" and "has" are in present tense and not in past tense. Hence, these are incorrect.

Option D is incorrect as "I wish I hadn't an umbrella" means "I wish I did not have an umbrella" . When it is raining hard, one would not wish that he did not have an umbrella. Hence, this is incorrect.