Select the correct tense form from the given options to replace the underlined word in the given sentence which has been placed incorrectly.
I wish that I will be an Apsara!
A. Am
B. Was
C. Were
D. Have been

Hint: The sentence suggests that the speaker wishes about being an Apsara. When we wish about being something we refer to the past. Example: I wish I were the Prime Minister. The given underlined words ‘will be’ are wrong as it refers to the future.

Complete answer:
Let us analyse each option individually in detail to know the correct answer with the help of the above stated hint.

Am : By implying this option, the sentence becomes “I wish that I am an Apsara”. This will be incorrect as this sentence refers to the present and with wishes we always use the past tense. Therefore, this is not the correct option.

Was: By implying this option, the sentence becomes “I wish that I was an Apsara”. This will be incorrect as this sentence refers to the past but means the action is over in the present. It means that the speaker wishes that she was an apsara but not anymore. There, this is not the intended option.

Were: By implying this option, the sentence becomes “I wish that I were an Apsara”. This will be correct as this sentence refers to the past with a present action. Therefore, this is the correct option.

Have been: By implying this option, the sentence becomes “I wish that I have been an Apsara”. This will be incorrect as this sentence refers to the past continuous tense and with wishes we always use the past tense. Therefore, this is not the correct option.

Hence, the correct answer is option ‘C’.

Note: The sentence indicates that the speaker is hypothesising about being an apsara. Therefore, we need a past tense to be used with the word ‘wish’ but also we need to refer to the present also as the speaker is hypothesising this in the present. That is why we did not choose the option ‘was’ as it refers that the action happened in the past but is over in the present.