Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one. Some sentences have two correct answers. Choose both.
1The committee insisted that the chair ............... the conflict of interest before the vote.
Wrong!
After verbs like insist, formal English often uses the mandative subjunctive base form.
2If the witness ............... the truth, the timeline would have collapsed under cross-examination.
Wrong!
This is an unreal past condition, so use the past perfect in the if-clause.
3I would rather she ............... it up in front of the clients, given how tense the room was.
Wrong!
With would rather, use a past form to express an unreal preference about the present or future.
4The CEO spoke as though the merger ............... a done deal, but the regulators had not even opened the file.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
As though can take an irrealis past form to show the speaker treats it as unreal or premature. With a singular subject, both "were" (irrealis) and "was" (indicative) are possible in educated usage.
5Be that as it ..............., we still have to publish the correction before the story spreads further.
Wrong!
The fixed concessive phrase is "Be that as it may."
6If it ............... not for her intervention, the negotiations would have broken down entirely.
Wrong!
In irrealis conditionals, "If it were not for" is standard; "If it was not for" is also used, but here we test the standard irrealis form.
7The judge ordered that the defendant ............... into custody immediately.
Wrong!
After order, formal English uses the mandative subjunctive base form.
8Suppose the data ............... tomorrow, how would you justify the conclusions in the report?
Wrong!
Suppose often uses an irrealis past form to imagine a hypothetical situation.
9The policy requires that every applicant ............... a passport photo with the form.
Wrong!
In formal requirements, use the mandative subjunctive base form after require.
10Had I ............... the fine print, I would never have signed that contract.
Wrong!
Inverted third conditional uses had plus past participle.
11The minister suggested that the inquiry ............... in public, not behind closed doors.
Wrong!
After suggest, the mandative subjunctive uses the base form, and passive is formed with be plus past participle.
12If I ............... you, I ............... that offer without hesitation.
Wrong!
For an unreal present, use were in the if-clause and would in the result clause.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- The committee insisted that the chair declare the conflict of interest before the vote.
- If the witness had told the truth, the timeline would have collapsed under cross-examination.
- I would rather she did not bring it up in front of the clients, given how tense the room was.
- The CEO spoke as though the merger was/were a done deal, but the regulators had not even opened the file.
- Be that as it may, we still have to publish the correction before the story spreads further.
- If it were not for her intervention, the negotiations would have broken down entirely.
- The judge ordered that the defendant be taken into custody immediately.
- Suppose the data leaked tomorrow, how would you justify the conclusions in the report?
- The policy requires that every applicant submit a passport photo with the form.
- Had I read the fine print, I would never have signed that contract.
- The minister suggested that the inquiry be held in public, not behind closed doors.
- If I were, would take you, I …………… that offer without hesitation.
