Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one. Some sentences have two correct answers. Choose both.
1If I ............... that the merger was a bluff, I wouldn’t be panicking about my job now.
Wrong!
Use past perfect in the if clause to show an unreal past condition with a present result.
2If she ............... the offer back then, she’d be running the department by now.
Wrong!
An unreal past decision needs past perfect, with a present consequence in would plus base verb.
3If we ............... the data properly last quarter, we wouldn’t be defending these numbers in today’s meeting.
Wrong!
Use past perfect for the unreal past action that affects the present situation.
4If he ............... so stubborn, he would have apologised after the incident.
Wrong!
A present trait can be the condition for a different past outcome, so use past simple in the if clause.
5If you ............... me earlier, I would have been waiting at the right entrance yesterday.
Wrong!
The if clause refers to an unreal past action, so it needs past perfect.
6If I ............... more decisive, I wouldn’t have let the negotiation drag on for months.
Wrong!
A present characteristic can explain an unreal past result, so use past simple in the if clause.
7If they ............... the warning signs, they wouldn’t be in court this week.
Wrong!
Ignoring something in the past needs past perfect to link to a present consequence.
8If the CEO ............... more transparent, the scandal wouldn’t have exploded last summer.
Wrong!
Use past simple for the present or general condition, with would have plus past participle for the past result.
9If I ............... the visa paperwork, I’d be in Tokyo with you right now.
Wrong!
A missed past action needs past perfect to explain a present unreal result.
10If she ............... the training, she would have been handling this software with ease today.
Wrong!
Use past perfect for the unreal past completion that affects present ability.
11If I ............... you, I would have refused that contract on principle.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
For a present unreal condition leading to a different past result, use past simple in the if clause; in formal English, both 'were' and 'had been' can be used in this structure.
12If he ............... more sleep, he wouldn’t have snapped at everyone during yesterday’s presentation.
Wrong!
A general condition can lead to an unreal past result, so use past simple in the if clause.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- If I had known 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 wasn’t so stubborn, 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, 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, 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 have been handling this software with ease today.
- If I had been/were you, I would have refused that contract on principle.
- If he got more sleep, he wouldn’t have snapped at everyone during yesterday’s presentation.
