Fill in the blanks
1She ............... about the developments. It was wrong to keep her in the dark.
Wrong!
Use "should have been told" to say that telling her was the right thing to do, but it did not happen.
2I ............... to the party, but I had so much work to do.
Wrong!
Use "would have gone" for an unreal past result that did not happen because you had too much work.
3He ............... another attempt.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "could have made" and "should have made" are possible: one means he had the opportunity, and the other means it was the right thing to do.
4You ............... rude to him. It really hurt him.
Wrong!
Use "shouldn't have been" to criticize a past action because being rude was wrong.
5I ............... if she had invited me.
Wrong!
Use "would have gone" for the unreal past result of a condition that did not happen.
6They ............... if you had asked more politely.
Wrong!
Use "would have obliged" for the likely unreal past result of asking more politely.
7I ............... her, but I didn't want to.
Wrong!
Use "could have married" to show a past possibility that did not happen.
8You ............... careful.
Wrong!
Use "should have been" to say that being careful was the right thing to do in the past.
9If you had been careful, you ............... this mistake.
Wrong!
Use "would not have made" for the unreal past result of being careful.
10It ............... an accident.
Wrong!
Use "could have been" to show that an accident was a possible explanation.
11He ............... if he hadn't escaped.
Wrong!
Use "could have been arrested" because he was the possible receiver of the action.
12I ............... something if I had been hungry.
Wrong!
Use "would have eaten" for the unreal past result of being hungry.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- She should have been told about the developments. It was wrong to keep her in the dark.
- I would have gone to the party, but I had so much work to do.
- He could have made / should have made another attempt.
- You shouldn’t have been rude to him. It really hurt him.
- I would have gone if she had invited me.
- They would have obliged if you had asked more politely.
- I could have married her, but I didn’t want to.
- You should have been careful.
- If you had been careful, you would not have made this mistake.
- It could have been an accident.
- He could have been arrested if he hadn’t escaped.
- I would have eaten something if I had been hungry.