Mixed Conditionals Exercises PDFSet 4: Inverted Conditionals: Had, Were & Should
20 questions·15 min·Answers included·Explanations included
Preview: Questions
Fill in the blank with the correct option.
1.___ the ambassador been informed earlier, the diplomatic crisis could have been averted.
a) Hadb) Werec) Shouldd) If
2.Had the researchers ___ the anomaly sooner, the study's conclusions would have been different.
a) noticeb) to noticec) noticingd) noticed
3.Had it not been for the paramedics' swift response, the patient ___.
a) may not surviveb) might not have survivedc) might not survived) will not have survived
4.___ the company to merge with its main competitor, thousands of jobs would be at risk.
a) Hadb) Shouldc) Wered) If
5.Were the board ___ a new chairperson next month, the company's strategic direction could change completely.
a) to appointb) appointingc) appointedd) appoints
... and 15 more questions in the PDF
Preview: Answers
1.Had
2.noticed
3.might not have survived
4.Were
5.to appoint
... and 15 more answers in the PDF
Preview: Explanations
1."Had"(a)
This is an inverted third conditional. In formal English, you can remove 'if' and invert the subject and auxiliary: 'Had the ambassador been informed' = 'If the ambassador had been informed.' 'Were' and 'Should' don't work with 'been + past participle' here, and 'If' alone would need 'had' after the subject.
2."noticed"(d)
In inverted third conditionals, 'Had + subject' replaces 'If + subject + had.' The structure requires a past participle: 'Had the researchers noticed' = 'If the researchers had noticed.' The base form, infinitive, and gerund cannot follow 'Had + subject' in this structure.
3."might not have survived"(b)
'Had it not been for' is an inverted form of 'If it had not been for,' creating a third conditional about a past event. The result clause needs 'would/could/might + have + past participle.' 'May not survive' and 'might not survive' refer to the present/future, and 'will not have survived' uses the wrong modal for unreal past.
4."Were"(c)
This is an inverted second conditional: 'Were + subject + to + infinitive.' 'Were the company to merge' = 'If the company were to merge' — a formal way to express a hypothetical present/future situation. 'Had' requires a past participle (not 'to merge'), 'Should' doesn't take 'to,' and 'If' alone needs a finite verb after the subject.
5."to appoint"(a)
The inverted second conditional structure is 'Were + subject + to + base verb.' 'Were the board to appoint' = 'If the board were to appoint.' After 'Were + subject,' only 'to + base verb' completes the inverted conditional correctly.
... and 15 more explanations in the PDF
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