Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1If Maya had taken the earlier flight, she ............... nervous about missing the opening session now.
Wrong!
Because the condition refers to an unreal past event but the result is true now, use "wouldn't be".
2If the company ............... so much on office rent, it could have invested more in staff training last year.
Wrong!
The result concerns a possible change to a past decision, so the condition must describe an unreal present habit; use "didn't spend".
3If you had told me you were in town, I ............... you to dinner tonight.
Wrong!
The past failure has a present consequence for tonight, so the correct result form is "would invite".
4If I ............... better at delegating, I wouldn't have missed the deadline yesterday.
Wrong!
The result is about a missed deadline in the past, caused by an unreal present ability or state, so use "were".
5If the last train hadn't broken down, we ............... walking home now.
Wrong!
The accident happened in the past, but the result is happening now, so use "wouldn't be".
6If he ............... the manager so much, he wouldn't have voted for the proposal yesterday.
Wrong!
A present attitude explains a past action, so the unreal present condition takes "didn't trust".
7If Carla had accepted the post in Berlin, she ............... a flat there this week.
Wrong!
The condition is about a rejected job in the past, but the result is a present plan, so use "would look for".
8If I ............... fluent Japanese, I could have handled the client interview last month.
Wrong!
The past missed opportunity depends on a present ability, so the correct condition is "spoke".
9If the studio had invested in better sound equipment, the podcast ............... profitable today.
Wrong!
A past investment decision has a present financial result, so use "would be".
10If Lena ............... responsible for the twins, she could have joined us on the hiking trip last weekend.
Wrong!
The missed past trip depends on a present ongoing responsibility, so use "weren't".
11If the organizers had sent a warning email, the audience ............... less confused right now.
Wrong!
The warning was not sent in the past, but the confusion is happening now, so use "would be".
12If Priya ............... more confident, she would have challenged the decision in yesterday's meeting.
Wrong!
A present lack of confidence explains a past decision, so the condition uses "were".
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- If Maya had taken the earlier flight, she wouldn’t be nervous about missing the opening session now.
- If the company didn’t spend so much on office rent, it could have invested more in staff training last year.
- If you had told me you were in town, I would invite you to dinner tonight.
- If I were better at delegating, I wouldn’t have missed the deadline yesterday.
- If the last train hadn’t broken down, we wouldn’t be walking home now.
- If he didn’t trust the manager so much, he wouldn’t have voted for the proposal yesterday.
- If Carla had accepted the post in Berlin, she would look for a flat there this week.
- If I spoke fluent Japanese, I could have handled the client interview last month.
- If the studio had invested in better sound equipment, the podcast would be profitable today.
- If Lena weren’t responsible for the twins, she could have joined us on the hiking trip last weekend.
- If the organizers had sent a warning email, the audience would be less confused right now.
- If Priya were more confident, she would have challenged the decision in yesterday’s meeting.