Unreal pasts and subjunctives

151. Unreal pasts and subjunctives Put the verbs in brackets into the correct forms. 1 It's just struck midnight. It's high time we (leave)! 2 If only we (have) a phone! I'm tired of queuing outside the public phone box. 3 You (have) better take off your wet shoes. 4 He walks as if he (have) a wooden leg. 5 He talks as if he (do) all the work himself, but in fact Tom and I did most of it. 6 Father: I've supported you all through university. Now I think it's time you (begin) to support yourself. 7 I wish I (know) what is wrong with my car. 8 It looks like rain; you (have) better take a coat. 9 I wish I (ask) the fishmonger to clean these fish. (I'm sorry I didn't ask him.) 10 It's time we (do) something to stop road accidents. 11 The cheese looks as if rats (nibble) it. 12 It's high time they (mend) this road. 13 He always talks as though he (address) a public meeting. 14 He treats us as if we (be) all idiots. 15 Wife: I'd like to get a job. Husband: I'd much rather you (stay) at home and (look) after the house. 16 If you (tie) the boat up it wouldn't have drifted away. 17 I wish you (not give) him my phone number. (7 'm sorry you gave it to him. ) 18 If only he (know) then that the disease was curable! 19 Suppose you (not know) where your next meal was coming from? 20 You talk as though it (be) a small thing to leave your country for ever. 21 I hate driving. I'd much rather you (drive). 22 If only I (be) insured! <But I wasn 't insured.) 23 If you (not take) those photographs we wouldn't have been arrested. 24 I wish transistor radios never (be) invented. 25 If only I (keep) my mouth shut! (/ said something which made matters much worse. ) 26 I'll pay you by cheque monthly. ~ I'd rather you (pay) me cash weekly. 27 When someone says something to me, I translate it into French, and then I think of a reply in French, and then translate it into English and say it. ~ It's high time you (stop) doing all this translation and (start) thinking in English. 28 I said 'Sunday'. ~I wish you (not say) Sunday. We'll never be ready by then. 29 But I told you what to do. ~I know you did. If only I (take) your advice! 30 A flower pot fell off the balcony on to the head of a man who was standing below. It was most unfortunate that he happened to be standing just there. If he (stand) a foot to the right or left he'd have been unharmed. 31 That man has brought us nothing but trouble. I wish I never (set) eyes on him. 32 Can I take your best umbrella? ~ I'd rather you (take) the other one. 33 If you (have) a peep hole in your door you would have seen who standing outside and kept the door shut. 34 I wish I (not try) to repair it. I only made it worse. 35 If I (not have) rubber gloves on I would have been electrocuted. 36 He looks as though he never (get) a square meal, but in fact his wife feeds him very well.

153 wish + subject + past, past perfect or conditional

Rewrite the following using a wish construction (phrases in brackets should be omitted). 1 I'm sorry I haven't got a washing machine. 2 I'm sorry I don't live near my work. 3 I'm sorry our garden doesn't get any sun. 4 I'm sorry I called him a liar. 5 I'm sorry I don't know Finnish. 6 I'm sorry I didn't book a seat. 7 I'm sorry I haven't got a car. 8 I'm sorry I can't drive. 9 I'd like Tom to drive more slowly (but I haven't any great hopes of this). 10 I'd like you to keep quiet. (You 're making so much noise that I can't think.) 11 I'm sorry we accepted the invitation. 12 I'm sorry that theatre tickets cost so much. 13 It's a pity that shops here shut on Saturday afternoon. 1

Unreal pasts and subjunctives

14 It's a pity he didn't work harder during the term. 15 I'm sorry you didn't see it. 16 It's a pity you are going tonight. 17 It's a pity I haven't got a work permit. 18 I would like it to stop raining (but I'm not very hopeful). 19 I'd like you to wait for me (even though you are ready to start now). 20 I'm sorry I didn't bring a map. 21 I'm sorry I ever came to this country. 22 I'm sorry I left my last job. 23 I'm sorry I didn't stay in my last job. 24 I'd like him to cut his hair (but I don't suppose he will). 25 I'd like him to stop smoking in bed (but I haven't any great hopes). 26 I'm sorry he goes to bed so late. 27 Motorist in fog: It's a pity we don't know where we are. 28 It's a pity we haven't a torch. 29 I'm sorry I didn't know you were coming. 30 I'm sorry you told Jack. 31 I'm sorry I didn't ask the fishmonger to open these oysters. 32 I'm sorry I can't swim. 33 I'm sorry you aren't coming with us. 34 I'm sorry you aren't going to a job where you could use your English. 35 It's a pity you didn't ask him how to get there. 36 I would like every country to stop killing whales (but have no real hope of this).

139 Conditional sentences: type I

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form. 1 I'll look for your notebook and if I (find) it I (give) you a ring. 2 If you (smoke) in a non-smoking compartment the other passengers (object). 3 I'll wash the glasses in this nice hot water. ~ No, don't. If you (put) them into very hot water they (crack). 4 If you (see) Tom tell him I have a message for him. 5 If he (win) he (get) 1,000; if he (come) in second he (get) 500. 6 If you (feel) too hot during the night turn down the central heating. 7 Tom: Jack is a translator; he translates 1,000 words a day and gets 100 a week, which he says isn't enough to live on. Bill: Well, if he (want) more money he (have) to do more work. Advise him to translate 2,000 words a day. 8 If you (finish) with your dictionary I'd like to borrow it. 9 Jack (in canoe): Watch me! I'm going to stand up! Tom (on the bank): He's an idiot! If he (stand) up in the canoe it (capsize). 10 The lift wasn't working when I was here last. If it still (not work) we (have) to use the stairs. 11 I shan't wake if the alarm clock (not go) off. 12 I shan't wake unless I (hear) the alarm. 13 If you'd like some ice I (get) some from the fridge. 14 He's only sixteen but he wants to leave school at the end of the term. ~ If he (leave) now he (be) sorry afterwards. 15 I expect it will freeze tonight. ~ If it (freeze) tonight the roads (be) very slippery tomorrow. 16 That book is overdue. If you (not take) it back to the library tomorrow you (have) to pay a fine. 17 Unless Tom (take) his library book back tomorrow he (have) to pay a fine. 18 You'd better take the day off if you (not feel) well tomorrow. 19 If a driver (brake) suddenly on a wet road he (skid). 20 If you (like) I (get) you a job in this company.

141 Conditional sentences: type 2

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form. 1 Of course I'm not going to give her a diamond ring. If I (give) her a diamond ring she (sell) it. 2 Tom: I woke up to find the room full of smoke; but I knew exactly what to do. Ann: If I (wake) up to find the room full of smoke I (have) no idea what to do. 3 Ann: I couldn't live without Tom. If he (go) off with another girl I (pine) away and die. But I have complete confidence in Tom. 4 Husband: But I'm not going on a diet. Why should I go on a diet? Wife: If you (go) on a diet you (lose) weight. 5 If someone (say), I'll give you 500 to go into court and swear that this statement is true, what you (do)? 6 If we (work) all night we (finish) in time; but we have no intention of working all night. 2

Unreal pasts and subjunctives

7 You must never blow out a gas light. Do you know what (happen) if you (blow) out a gas light? 8 If I (see) a tiger walking across Hyde Park I (climb) a tree. ~ That (not be) any use. The tiger (climb) after you. 9 If I (come) across two men fighting with knives I (call) the police. ~ But this is a very peaceful area. 10 Ann: All your clothes are years out of date. Why don't you throw them away? Mary: Don't be ridiculous! If I (throw) my clothes away I (have) to ask my husband for 1,000 to buy new ones. 11 Ann: If you (ask) him for 1,000 what he (say)? 12 Mary: He (be) too horrified to speak at first. But when he'd recovered from the shock, he probably (start) talking about a divorce. 13 If someone (ring) my doorbell at 3 a.m. I (be) very unwilling to open the door. 14 If I (see) a python in Piccadilly I (assume) it had escaped from a circus. 15 Tom: The plane was on fire so we baled out. Ann: I don't think I (have) the nerve to do that even if the plane (be) on fire. 16 We train the children to file out of the classroom quietly, because if a whole class (rush) at the door someone (get) hurt. 17 Why don't you buy a season ticket?- Because I lose everything. If I (buy) a season ticket I (lose) it. 18 Why don't you bring your car to work? If I (have) a car I (bring) it to work. 19 Jack: They get 150 a week. Tom: They can't get 150 a week. If they (do) they (not be) striking for 120. 20 Ann: George is fourteen. Tom: He must be older than that. He's in a full-time job. If he (be) only fourteen he Still (be) at school.

Conditional sentences: type 3

Rewrite these sentences using an if construction. 1 I didn't see the signal, so I didn't stop. 2 I didn't know your number, so I didn't ring. 3 She didn't know you were in hospital, so she didn't visit you. 4 We only came by bus because there were no taxis. 5 She didn't speak to him, possibly because she was so shy. 6 Landlord: She threatened to set fire to her flat; that's the only reason I asked her to leave. 7 We didn't visit the museum because we hadn't time. 8 I only came up the stairs because the lift wasn't working. 9 We didn't listen carefully; perhaps that's why we made this mistake. 10 We got a lift, so we reached the station in time. 11 You washed it in boiling water; that's why it shrank. 12 We missed the train because we were using an out-of-date timetable. 13 His own men deserted him; that's the only reason why he failed. 14 They were driving very quickly. That's why the accident was so terrible. 15 It was raining. That's the only reason I didn't take the children to the beach. 16 When I bought this house I didn't realize that in summer planes skimmed the roof every five minutes. {If I (knew) . . . Knot buy) etc.) 17 Tom's father was on the Board. That's the only reason he got the job. 18 He wasn't looking where he was going. That's why he was run over. 19 I don't like country life, perhaps because I wasn't brought up in the country. 20 I didn't know he was so quarrelsome. I'm sorry now that I invited him. 21 It rained all the time. Perhaps that's why he didn't enjoy his visit. 22 I didn't work hard at school so I didn't get a good job when I left. 23 They used closed-circuit television. That's how they spotted the shop-lifter. 24 They asked him to leave the dining-room because he wasn't wearing a shirt. 25 It took us a long time to find his house because the streets were not clearly marked. 26 We didn't go by air only because we hadn't enough money. 27 The bus didn't stop because you didn't put your hand up. 28 He turned up at the interview looking so disreputable and unshaven that they didn't give him the job. 29 I didn't know how thin the ice was, so I was walking on it quite confidently. 30 The champion didn't take the fight seriously at first; perhaps that's why he didn't win it. 31 They got the children back alive only because they paid the ransom at once. 32 The examiner read the passage very quickly, so the candidates didn't understand it. 33 They weren't wearing life-jackets; perhaps that's why they were drowned. 34 He didn't get to the top of his profession, perhaps because his wife didn't encourage him. 35 The exit doors were blocked so people couldn't escape from the burning hall. 3

Unreal pasts and subjunctives

36 The astronauts didn't walk very far on the moon because they were hampered by the thick dust.

145 Conditional sentences: mixed types

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct forms. 1 I've hung out the clothes. It's lovely and sunny; if it (stay) like this they (be) dry in two hours. 2 French is essential in this job. All the telephonists speak it. If they (not know) French they (not understand) half the callers. 3 How did you do in the car rally? ~ We came in la st actually; but only because we got lost. If we (not got) lost we (come) in somewhere in the middle. We certainly (not be) last. 4 I wasn't really surprised that we got lost because I knew that the navigator couldn't map-read. ~ But if you (know) that why you (take) him as navigator? 5 This flat would be all right if the people above us (not be) so noisy. 6 A group of spectators, including myself, left the stand just before the end of the game. When we were half way down the stairs a goal was scored and there was a great cheer from the spectators. If there (not be) a goal the crowd (not cheer). 7 If the crowd (not cheer) we (not run) back up the stairs to see what had happened. 8 If we (not run) back we (not crash) into the rest of the spectators on their way down, and there (not be) this frightful accident. 9 If the pain (return) you'd better take another pill. 10 If you aren't going to live in the house why you (not sell) it? If I (have) a house I couldn't use I (sell) it at once. 11 No, I didn't know any Russian at that time. ~ But if you (not know) Russian why you (offer) to give him Russian lessons? ~ Because I knew that he (refuse). He always rejected my offers. 12 Tell him to bring his bicycle inside. If he (leave) it outside someone (steal) it. 13 Why do people always wear dark clothes at night? If pedestrians (wear) light coloured clothes drivers (see) them much more easily. 14 She must have loved him very much because she waited for him for fifteen years. If she (not love) him she (not wait) so long. 15 He looked so small and weak that nobody asked him to do anything. If he (look) strong he (be) expected to dig all day like everyone else. 16 The government are talking of pulling the village down to make room for an airport. ~ If they (start) doing it the village people (resist)? 17 If you are catching an early train tomorrow you (like) to have breakfast at 7.00? 18 We'll have to break the ice on the pond; otherwise the ducks (not be able) to swim. And if they (not be able) to swim they (not be able) to get food. (Use can/could forms where possible.) 19 When he left school he became a fisherman. His family didn't like it at all. They (be) much happier if he (become) a greengrocer like his father. 20 They still say that if he (go) into the greengrocery business when he left school he (be) comfortably off now instead of being poor. 21 But he says that if he (have) his life again he (make) the same choice. 22 So many parcels and no baskets! If I (know) that we were going to buy so much I (bring) a basket. 23 No one bathes here. The water is heavily polluted. If you (bathe) in it you (be) ill for a fortnight. 24 I can hear the speaker all right but I wish I could see him too. ~ If he (stand) on a barrel we all (see) him and that (be) much better. 25 Look at poor Tom trying to start his car by hand again! If I (be) Tom I (get) a new battery. 26 I expect you'll see Jack at the lecture tonight. If you (do) you please (remind) him about tomorrow's meeting? 27 The headmaster decided that Peter was the culprit and expelled him from the school. A more intelligent man (realize) that Peter couldn't have been guilty. (If the headmaster had been more intelligent he . . . .) 28 But I blame the real culprit even more. If he (admit) his guilt Peter (not be) expelled. 29 The only thing I haven't got is a balcony. If I (have) a balcony I (grow) plants in pots. Then my flat (be) perfect! 30 Jack rang while you were out. ~ Oh dear! If I (know) he was going to ring I (stay) at home.