Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one. Some sentences have two correct answers. Choose both.
1If I ............... earlier that the merger was a bluff, I wouldn’t be panicking about my job now.
Wrong!
Use "had known" for an unreal past condition with a present result.
2If she ............... the offer back then, she’d be running the department by now.
Wrong!
Use "had accepted" for an unreal past decision with a present result.
3If we ............... the data properly last quarter, we wouldn’t be defending these numbers in today’s meeting.
Wrong!
Use "had analysed" for an unreal past action that affects the present situation.
4If he ............... so stubborn by nature, he would have apologised after the incident.
Wrong!
Use "weren’t" for an unreal present or general condition with a different past result.
5If you ............... me earlier, I would have been waiting at the right entrance yesterday.
Wrong!
Use "had told" for an unreal past action before the past result.
6If I ............... more decisive by nature, I wouldn’t have let the negotiation drag on for months.
Wrong!
Use "were" for an unreal present personal quality with a different past result.
7If they ............... the warning signs, they wouldn’t be in court this week.
Wrong!
Use "hadn’t ignored" for an unreal past action with a present consequence.
8If the CEO ............... more transparent by nature, the scandal wouldn’t have exploded last summer.
Wrong!
Use "were" for an unreal present or general condition with a different past result.
9If I ............... the visa paperwork, I’d be in Tokyo with you right now.
Wrong!
Use "had filed" for a missed past action that explains an unreal present result.
10If she ............... the training, she would be handling this software with ease today.
Wrong!
Use "had completed" for an unreal past achievement with a present result.
11If I ..............., I would have refused that contract on principle.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "were you" and "had been in your position" can introduce the unreal condition for this past decision.
12If he usually ............... more sleep, he wouldn’t have snapped at everyone during yesterday’s presentation.
Wrong!
Use "got" for a general unreal habit with a different past result.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- If I had known earlier that the merger was a bluff, I wouldn’t be panicking about my job now.
- If she had accepted the offer back then, she’d be running the department by now.
- If we had analysed the data properly last quarter, we wouldn’t be defending these numbers in today’s meeting.
- If he weren’t so stubborn by nature, he would have apologised after the incident.
- If you had told me earlier, I would have been waiting at the right entrance yesterday.
- If I were more decisive by nature, I wouldn’t have let the negotiation drag on for months.
- If they hadn’t ignored the warning signs, they wouldn’t be in court this week.
- If the CEO were more transparent by nature, the scandal wouldn’t have exploded last summer.
- If I had filed the visa paperwork, I’d be in Tokyo with you right now.
- If she had completed the training, she would be handling this software with ease today.
- If I were you / had been in your position, I would have refused that contract on principle.
- If he usually got more sleep, he wouldn’t have snapped at everyone during yesterday’s presentation.