Choose the best option to complete each conditional sentence.
1If we had left before rush hour, we ............... at the venue now instead of still sitting in traffic.
Wrong!
"would be" gives a present result of the unreal past condition, as shown by "now."
2If the technician had checked the wiring, the fault ............... before the launch yesterday.
Wrong!
"would have been found" forms a passive third conditional about the missed check before yesterday's launch.
3............... again during the test tomorrow, the building will be evacuated.
Wrong!
"Should the alarm sound" is an inverted future condition matching "tomorrow."
4The insurer will cover the damage ............... you can prove that you reported it within 48 hours; otherwise, it will reject the claim.
Wrong!
"only if" introduces the proof as a necessary condition for receiving cover.
5............... emergency funding in March, the project would have been cancelled by now.
Wrong!
"Had it not received" is an inverted third-conditional clause referring to the funding received in March.
6If the laboratory ............... a larger budget now, it could be developing the vaccine locally.
Wrong!
"had" expresses an unreal present situation, signalled by "now" and the result "could be developing."
7The permit expired yesterday; if it ............... still valid, we could start work tomorrow.
Wrong!
"were" presents a contrary-to-fact present condition because the permit has already expired.
8Unless the museum had extended its opening hours, we ............... able to see the exhibition after work yesterday.
Wrong!
"would not have been" completes the unreal past result introduced by "Unless ... had extended."
9By next June, if she ............... all the required modules, she will qualify for the diploma.
Wrong!
"has completed" is used in the condition for achievement by the future deadline "next June."
10The evacuation plan is essential: without it, staff ............... where to assemble during an emergency.
Wrong!
"would not know" expresses the hypothetical consequence of being without the evacuation plan.
11If only I ............... more attention to the instructions, I would not have made that error.
Wrong!
"had paid" follows "If only" to express regret about a past action and its past result.
12Although this is highly unlikely, if the main server were to fail tonight, the backup system ............... automatically.
Wrong!
"would take over" matches the hypothetical future condition formed with "were to fail."
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- If we had left before rush hour, we would be at the venue now instead of still sitting in traffic.
- If the technician had checked the wiring, the fault would have been found before the launch yesterday.
- Should the alarm sound again during the test tomorrow, the building will be evacuated.
- The insurer will cover the damage only if you can prove that you reported it within 48 hours; otherwise, it will reject the claim.
- Had it not received emergency funding in March, the project would have been cancelled by now.
- If the laboratory had a larger budget now, it could be developing the vaccine locally.
- The permit expired yesterday; if it were still valid, we could start work tomorrow.
- Unless the museum had extended its opening hours, we would not have been able to see the exhibition after work yesterday.
- By next June, if she has completed all the required modules, she will qualify for the diploma.
- The evacuation plan is essential: without it, staff would not know where to assemble during an emergency.
- If only I had paid more attention to the instructions, I would not have made that error.
- Although this is highly unlikely, if the main server were to fail tonight, the backup system would take over automatically.