Inversion Exercises PDFSet 3: Conditional Inversion & So/Such Emphasis
20 questions·15 min·Answers included·Explanations included
Preview: Questions
Fill in the blank with the correct option.
1.___ I known about the traffic, I would have left earlier.
a) Hadb) Ifc) Wouldd) Have
2.___ she to apply for the job, she would certainly get it.
a) Ifb) Werec) Wasd) Should
3.So beautiful ___ that everyone stopped to admire it.
a) the painting wasb) the painting isc) was the paintingd) the painting had been
4.___ you need any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
a) Ifb) Whenc) Wouldd) Should
5.___ it not been for your help, we would have failed.
a) Hadb) Ifc) Wered) Has
... and 15 more questions in the PDF
Preview: Answers
1.Had
2.Were
3.was the painting
4.Should
5.Had
... and 15 more answers in the PDF
Preview: Explanations
1."Had"(a)
In formal English, third conditionals can drop 'if' and invert 'had' + subject: 'Had I known...' = 'If I had known...' This is common in formal writing.
2."Were"(b)
In formal English, second conditionals can drop 'if' and use 'Were + subject + to-infinitive': 'Were she to apply...' = 'If she were to apply...' Always use 'were' (not 'was') in this structure.
3."was the painting"(c)
When 'So + adjective' begins the sentence for emphasis, the verb inverts with the subject: 'So beautiful was the painting that...' The 'that' clause states the result.
4."Should"(d)
'Should' can replace 'If' at the start of first conditionals in formal English: 'Should you need...' = 'If you should need...' This is very common in formal letters and business English.
5."Had"(a)
'Had it not been for' is the inverted form of 'If it had not been for'. It expresses a past hypothetical condition: 'Had it not been for your help, we would have failed.'
... and 15 more explanations in the PDF
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