Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1............... more carefully, she would not be facing a lawsuit now.
Wrong!
The inverted third conditional form is "Had she read" because the condition refers to an unreal past action.
2If the negotiations had not collapsed last year, the company would ............... expanding into Asia now.
Wrong!
The mixed conditional result needs "be" after "would" to describe the present consequence of a past condition.
3............... his advice seriously, we might have avoided the whole crisis.
Wrong!
The inverted third conditional form is "Had we taken" because the sentence describes an unreal past situation.
4If I were in your position, I ............... the offer without asking for clarification first.
Wrong!
The second conditional result uses "wouldn't accept" for advice about a hypothetical present situation.
5............... the sudden power cut, the presentation would have gone smoothly.
Wrong!
The formal conditional phrase "But for" means that without the power cut, the result would have been different.
6If she ............... more assertive, her colleagues wouldn't keep interrupting her in meetings.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
In this unreal present conditional, both "was" and "were" are acceptable after "she", though "were" is more formal.
7............... the weather had improved by noon, the expedition would still have been cancelled because of the permit issue.
Wrong!
The connector "Even if" shows that the expedition would have been cancelled regardless of the weather.
8If you had told me the data were unreliable, I ............... them in the report.
Wrong!
The third conditional result uses "wouldn't have included" for an unreal past consequence.
9............... any further delays, we should still meet the publication deadline.
Wrong!
The formal conditional word "Barring" means unless there are further delays.
10If the medication had worked as expected, he ............... in pain now.
Wrong!
The mixed conditional result uses "wouldn't be" for a present state caused by an unreal past condition.
11............... to reveal the source, the journalist could face legal action.
Wrong!
The formal inverted conditional form is "Were she" before "to reveal" for a hypothetical future action; "should" is followed by the base form without "to".
12If it ............... for your reminder, I would have completely forgotten the appointment.
Wrong!
The fixed third conditional expression is "hadn't been" in "if it hadn't been for".
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- Had she read more carefully, she would not be facing a lawsuit now.
- If the negotiations had not collapsed last year, the company would be expanding into Asia now.
- Had we taken his advice seriously, we might have avoided the whole crisis.
- If I were in your position, I wouldn’t accept the offer without asking for clarification first.
- But for the sudden power cut, the presentation would have gone smoothly.
- If she was / were more assertive, her colleagues wouldn’t keep interrupting her in meetings.
- Even if the weather had improved by noon, the expedition would still have been cancelled because of the permit issue.
- If you had told me the data were unreliable, I wouldn’t have included them in the report.
- Barring any further delays, we should still meet the publication deadline.
- If the medication had worked as expected, he wouldn’t be in pain now.
- Were she to reveal the source, the journalist could face legal action.
- If it hadn’t been for your reminder, I would have completely forgotten the appointment.