Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1The council ............... be willing to reconsider the grant, provided that the trustees submit independent audited accounts by Friday.
Wrong!
Use "would" in a formal conditional offer: the council is offering to reconsider if the trustees accept the audit condition.
2We can release the remaining funds this afternoon if you ............... the revised indemnity.
Wrong!
In the if-clause of a real conditional offer, use the present simple: "sign".
3I can give you access to the draft report ............... you keep the negotiations confidential.
Wrong!
"On condition that" introduces the requirement attached to the offer; "because" gives a reason, not a condition.
4You may use my dataset under one ...............: no individual participant may be identifiable in the published appendix.
Wrong!
The fixed pattern for a restricted offer is "under one condition".
5I'll share the archive with your team ............... the source is credited in every presentation.
Wrong!
"As long as" means 'provided that' and sets the condition for the offer.
6We can offer the client an extended licence, ............... the confidentiality clause without alteration.
Wrong!
"Subject to your accepting" makes the addressee's acceptance the condition of the offer.
7If the buyer doubts the provenance, you are ............... inspect the laboratory records before signing.
Wrong!
Use the offer formula "welcome to" before an infinitive: "You are welcome to...".
8If that would ease the transition, I ............... arrange for two senior analysts to stay on for the first month.
Wrong!
"Could" makes a tentative conditional offer; "must" would impose an obligation.
9The consortium's offer will remain open until noon on Monday ............... the regulator objects before then.
Wrong!
"Unless" means 'if not' and states the condition under which the offer will not stand.
10The supplier will include twelve months' maintenance at no extra cost ............... that payment is received within ten working days.
Wrong!
"Provided that" introduces the requirement attached to the offer.
11The university could make the laboratory available next quarter, ...............
Wrong!
For a formal possible future condition, use inversion with "should": "should the board approve the revised budget".
12If the publisher agrees to a shorter embargo, we will accept our ............... and sign this week.
Wrong!
A revised offer made in response to an earlier one is a "counteroffer".
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- The council would be willing to reconsider the grant, provided that the trustees submit independent audited accounts by Friday.
- We can release the remaining funds this afternoon if you sign the revised indemnity.
- I can give you access to the draft report on condition that you keep the negotiations confidential.
- You may use my dataset under one condition: no individual participant may be identifiable in the published appendix.
- I’ll share the archive with your team as long as the source is credited in every presentation.
- We can offer the client an extended licence, subject to your accepting the confidentiality clause without alteration.
- If the buyer doubts the provenance, you are welcome to inspect the laboratory records before signing.
- If that would ease the transition, I could arrange for two senior analysts to stay on for the first month.
- The consortium’s offer will remain open until noon on Monday unless the regulator objects before then.
- The supplier will include twelve months’ maintenance at no extra cost provided that payment is received within ten working days.
- The university could make the laboratory available next quarter, should the board approve the revised budget.
- If the publisher agrees to a shorter embargo, we will accept our counteroffer and sign this week.