Complete the following sentences. This grammar exercise tests your understanding of basic grammar rules and sentence patterns.
1She would never ............... if she hadn’t changed jobs.
Wrong!
After "would never," use the perfect passive form "have been promoted" in this third conditional sentence.
2I have no interest in politics. I never had, and I ...............
Wrong!
The natural ellipsis after "I never had" is "never will" to mean the speaker will never have interest in politics.
3I am going to do my homework, and ............... I am going to play.
Wrong!
The adverb "afterwards" means later, after doing the homework.
4I expected to pass the exam, but I failed ...............
Wrong!
Use "after all" when the final result is different from what was expected.
5When I was ..............., I was working.
Wrong!
The natural expression is "your age" after "when I was."
6If I had known that she was coming, I ............... the function in the first place.
Wrong!
In a third conditional result clause, use "wouldn't have attended" for an unreal past result.
7............... she informed the police, she wouldn’t be in trouble now.
Wrong!
This mixed conditional (past condition, present result) can be inverted by starting with "Had" instead of "If she had."
8I don’t know where they ...............
Wrong!
Use the present perfect "have gone" when their current location is unknown.
9If I hadn’t lost consciousness, I ............... out what they were doing.
Wrong!
In a third conditional result clause, "could have found" shows a possible past result that did not happen.
10You ............... this to him. He is really upset.
Wrong!
Use "should not have done" to criticize a past action that was a mistake.
Answers
- She would never have been promoted if she hadn’t changed jobs.
- I have no interest in politics. I never had, and I never will.
- I am going to do my homework, and afterwards I am going to play.
- I expected to pass the exam, but I failed after all.
- When I was your age, I was working.
- If I had known that she was coming, I wouldn’t have attended the function in the first place.
- Had she informed the police, she wouldn’t be in trouble now.
- I don’t know where they have gone.
- If I hadn’t lost consciousness, I could have found out what they were doing.
- You should not have done this to him. He is really upset.