Mixed Conditionals Exercises PDFSet 5: Advanced Conditional Structures: Alternatives to 'If'
20 questions·15 min·Answers included·Explanations included
Preview: Questions
Fill in the blank with the correct option.
1.___ the pilot's quick reflexes, the plane would have crashed during the storm.
a) But forb) Despitec) Because ofd) In spite of
2.But for the invention of antibiotics, millions of people ___ to common infections over the past century.
a) would succumbb) will have succumbedc) had succumbedd) would have succumbed
3.But for her chronic back pain, she ___ in the upcoming marathon.
a) would have competedb) would be competingc) will competed) competed
4.The university will grant you a scholarship ___ you maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5 throughout the academic year.
a) supposing thatb) but forc) provided thatd) otherwise
5.Employees may work remotely ___ they submit their weekly reports by Friday.
a) providingb) unlessc) but ford) despite
... and 15 more questions in the PDF
Preview: Answers
1.But for
2.would have succumbed
3.would be competing
4.provided that
5.providing
... and 15 more answers in the PDF
Preview: Explanations
1."But for"(a)
'But for' means 'If it had not been for' or 'Without,' creating a conditional meaning. 'Despite' and 'In spite of' are concessive — they would mean the plane crashed REGARDLESS of the reflexes. 'Because of' would mean the reflexes CAUSED the crash, reversing the intended meaning.
2."would have succumbed"(d)
'But for the invention of antibiotics' = 'If antibiotics had not been invented.' The phrase 'over the past century' refers to a past period, requiring the third conditional: 'would have + past participle.' 'Would succumb' is for present/future hypothetical, 'will have succumbed' is future perfect, and 'had succumbed' is past perfect without conditional meaning.
3."would be competing"(b)
'But for her chronic back pain' = 'If it were not for her back pain' — a present ongoing condition. The 'upcoming marathon' is a future event, making this a second conditional. 'Would be competing' expresses the ongoing nature of participation. 'Would have competed' is third conditional (past), 'will compete' is for real situations, and 'competed' is past simple.
4."provided that"(c)
'Provided that' sets a real condition — the scholarship depends on maintaining the GPA. 'Supposing that' is for hypothetical scenarios ('Imagine if...'), not factual conditions. 'But for' requires a noun, not a clause, and means 'if not for.' 'Otherwise' introduces a consequence, not a condition.
5."providing"(a)
'Providing (that)' means 'on condition that' — employees can work remotely IF they submit reports. 'Unless' means 'if not,' so 'unless they submit' would mean they can work remotely only if they DON'T submit reports — the opposite meaning. 'But for' requires a noun, and 'despite' is concessive.
... and 15 more explanations in the PDF
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