Choose the best completion for each mixed conditional.
1If Maya had accepted the job in Edinburgh last year, she ............... closer to her sister now.
Wrong!
The past decision has a present ongoing result, signalled by "now", so use "would be living".
2Leo ............... yesterday's 9 a.m. meeting if he weren't a night-shift worker.
Wrong!
His current status as a night-shift worker explains an unreal past result, so use "would have attended".
3If Priya hadn't injured her hand last year, she ............... her own bakery now.
Wrong!
The unreal injury happened last year, but "now" requires the present ongoing result "would be running".
4If the road weren't so narrow, the lorry ............... the farm yesterday.
Wrong!
The road's present characteristic is linked to a missed opportunity yesterday, so use "would have reached".
5If I hadn't ignored the safety warning last week, I ............... a disciplinary hearing tomorrow.
Wrong!
The ignored warning is in the past, while the hearing is tomorrow, so use the future result "wouldn't be facing".
6The theatre is still extremely expensive to maintain; otherwise, the council ............... its renovation last month.
Wrong!
The theatre is still expensive now, but the unreal decision was last month, so use "would have approved".
7If Daniel were more organised, he ............... last Friday's deadline.
Wrong!
Daniel's present lack of organisation is connected to a past result, so use "wouldn't have missed".
8If you'd renewed your passport before it expired, you ............... eligible to board the flight with us now.
Wrong!
Renewing the passport was a past action, but "now" requires the present result "would be".
9If the museum were open on Mondays, we ............... it during our trip last week.
Wrong!
The museum's regular schedule is a present condition, while the possible visit was last week, so use "could have visited".
10If I had taken the training course, I ............... this software much easier to use now.
Wrong!
Not taking the course was a past event, but "now" points to the present result "would find".
11Sara is allergic to cats; otherwise, she ............... at Tom's house last weekend.
Wrong!
Sara's allergy is a present condition linked to an unreal possibility last weekend, so use "could have stayed".
12The garden ............... much greener now if it had rained regularly in June.
Wrong!
The missing rain was in June, but "now" requires the present result "would look".
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- If Maya had accepted the job in Edinburgh last year, she would be living closer to her sister now.
- Leo would have attended yesterday’s 9 a.m. meeting if he weren’t a night-shift worker.
- If Priya hadn’t injured her hand last year, she would be running her own bakery now.
- If the road weren’t so narrow, the lorry would have reached the farm yesterday.
- If I hadn’t ignored the safety warning last week, I wouldn’t be facing a disciplinary hearing tomorrow.
- The theatre is still extremely expensive to maintain; otherwise, the council would have approved its renovation last month.
- If Daniel were more organised, he wouldn’t have missed last Friday’s deadline.
- If you’d renewed your passport before it expired, you would be eligible to board the flight with us now.
- If the museum were open on Mondays, we could have visited it during our trip last week.
- If I had taken the training course, I would find this software much easier to use now.
- Sara is allergic to cats; otherwise, she could have stayed at Tom’s house last weekend.
- The garden would look much greener now if it had rained regularly in June.