Three years ago, my father 1 with cancer.

It was stage IV cancer, which meant that

he didn’t have much time to live. When I learned that he was going to die, I 2 him in
over a year and, to be honest, our relationship wasn’t the best. It was not that we argued a lot, because

we 3 . But if we never argued, it was just because we didn’t talk very often.
My parents divorced when I was a teenager, and my father had to move

into 4 apartment on the outskirts, which wasn’t convenient for me. My

friends lived near my mum’s home, and in my father’s apartment I had a very dark and tiny room. My

father 5 and he even bought me an amazing TV with the little income that he had.

But I6 in 7 tiny space, and I always

made 8 excuse to avoid visiting.

The thing is, I 9 there for my dad when he needed me. Years went by and I
started to feel guilty. I really wanted to have him back but I had let the

relationship 10 to the extend that we were practically strangers.

When he gave me the news, he looked 11 he was truly sorry, and he told me that it was his
fault that we had grown apart; he hadn’t fought hard enough to make our relationship work. I couldn’t
believe how he could feel guilty when I was the one to blame.

I decided 12 an unpaid leave of absence at work 13 I could spend my

dad’s last weeks with him. It was very hard and wonderful at the same time. We talked for hours every
day, we remembered all the good moments, we recounted all the details of our separate lives, we
expressed all those feelings that had gone unconfessed. Before dying he told me that I had given him the
best present he could ever have hoped for. I was so moved to hear that, and glad. Since that day I have

always regretted 14 more time with my dad. I wish I 15 things

differently while my father was alive and I still had the chance.

1.had diagnosed was diagnosed diagnosed

2. hadn’t seen haven’t seen didn’t see
3. not weren’t didn’t
4. an old little a little cheap an uncomfortable little
5. had painted had painted had it painted
6. wasn’t used to living wasn’t used to live didn’t used to live
7. so as such
8. whatever however whichever
9. should have been must have been should be
10. to deteriorate deteriorating deteriorate
11. as --- as if
12. take taking to take
13. so that to for
14. not to have spend not to spend not having spent
15. had done would do did
Feedback
1 Correct answer: was diagnosed
 To review the passive voice, go to B1+» Grammar points » The passive voice – all tenses

2 Correct answer: hadn’t seen

 We use the past perfect to talk about a past event that happened earlier in the past.
 To review narrative tenses, go to B1+» Grammar points » Narrative tenses – all past tenses

3 Correct answer: didn’t

 We can use auxiliary verbs to avoid repeating a verb phrase.
 To review the uses of auxiliary verbs, go to B1+» Grammar points » Auxiliary verbs – different
uses

4 Correct answer: an uncomfortable little

 We use adjectives of opinion before adjectives of size.
 To review the order of adjectives, go to B1+» Grammar points » Adjective order

5 Correct answer: had it painted

 We use have + object + past participle when we want to talk about something that someone
else does for us, usually because we pay them, or because we persuade or ask them to do it.
 To review this structure, go to B1+» Grammar points » Have something done

6 Correct answer: wasn’t used to living

 We say be/get used to + -ing.
 To review this grammar lesson, go to B1+» Grammar points » Used to, be used to, get used to

7 Correct answer: such

 We use such + noun
 To review so and such, go to B1+» Grammar points » So, such (a), so much, so many

8 Correct answer: whatever

 Whatever means ‘anything’ or ‘everything’, ‘it doesn’t matter what’.
 To review this grammar lesson, go to B1+» Grammar points » Whatever, whenever, wherever,
whoever, however

9 Correct answer: should have been

 We use should have/ought to have + past participle to talk about a situation expected to
happen in the past. This form is normally used for criticism.
 To review past modal verbs, go to B1+» Grammar points » Past modal verbs of deduction

10 Correct answer: deteriorate

 We say let + object + infinitive without to.
 To review gerunds and infinitives, go to B1+» Grammar points » Gerund or infinitive – verb
patterns
11 Correct answer: as if
 We use feel, smell, taste, sound, and feel + as if/as though + clause (subject + verb).
 To review verbs of the senses, go to B1+» Grammar points » Verbs of the senses: look, sound,
feel, etc.

12 Correct answer: to take

 We say decide + to + infinitive.
 To review gerunds and infinitives, go to B1+» Grammar points » Gerund or infinitive – verb
patterns

13 Correct answer: so that

 We can use so that + subject + verb to express purpose.
 To review clauses of purpose, go to B1+» Grammar points » Clauses of contrast and purpose

14 Correct answer: not having spent

 We say regret + -ing.
 To review gerunds and infinitives, go to B1+» Grammar points » Gerund or infinitive – verb
patterns

15 Correct answer: had done

 We can use wish + subject + past perfect to talk about things that happened in the past and that
we regret.
 To review this grammar lesson, go to B1+» Grammar points » Wishes and regrets – I wish / if
only