Table 3

Conditional clause	Main clause
If it didn’t rain were not raining were (was) fine	I + should not stay indoors We would go for a walk He start out at once She It + would You They

Exercise 1. Replace the infinitive in brackets by the right form of the verb.

Example If you (understand) children, you (not to speak) like that.

If you understood children, you would not speak like that.

1. She (grow up) a sensible person if they (stop) treating her like a plaything.
2. The flowers (grow) much better if you (water) them regularly.
3. I don’t think he (mind) if we (not to ask) him.
4. If you (want) to see you, she (can) come here.
5. If you (not to be) so angry, you (can) see it yourself.
6. If he (Know) the subject better, he (not to say) the things he does.
7. Even if he (be) here, he (say) the same.
8. Even if nobody (object), I (object).
9. Even if she (see) it with her own eyes, she (not to believe) it.
10. I (can) not go today even if you (ask) me to.
11. They (go) there even if you (try) to stop them.
12. Even if I (can) help you, I (not to act) against my conscience and judgment.

Exercise 2 Write sentences presenting unreal situations (present time references) based on the given facts.

Example The soup isn’t hot, so it isn’t enjoyable.

If the soup were hot, it would be enjoyable.

1. Since she doesn’t love him, she won’t marry him.
2. Our teacher explains things clearly, so we understand his lessons.
3. As I haven’t got a match, I can’t tell you the time.
4. Britain doesn’t export much, so she has a constant balance of payment problems.
5. Since I know the meaning of the word I don’t have to look it up.
6. This exercise is easy, so everyone will get the correct answers.
7. I know the answer, so I can tell you.
8. We haven’t any matches, so we can’t light the fire.
9. The boy is ill, so he doesn’t attend classes now.
10. We know each other for many years, so we can talk about everything sincerely

Exercise 3 Combine each pair of simple sentences into one complex sentence with an adverbial clause of condition

Make other changes if necessary.

Example Sam has a cold. He won’t come to class tomorrow.

1. Margaret is busy. She won’t be able to visit her friends.
2. Barbara likes sweets too much. She won’t get slim.
3. James feels exhausted. He won’t be able to sit up late.
4. Mrs. Smith feels hurt. She won’t do this for us.
5. Paul doesn’t feel hungry. He won’t go to the café.

Exercise 5 Answer the questions with conditional statements

1. What cities or other places of interest would you visit if you went to America \Great Britain \Africa, etc.?
2. What would you do if you could live your life over again?
3. What famous person would you like to meet if you had the chance?
4. Which books or records would you take with you if you went to live on a desert island?
5. What changes would you make in your flat assuming you had the possibility?

Exercise 6 Answer the following questions.

What would you do if…

1 …you wanted to set your son a good example?

2 …you were invited to see someone on Thirsday night but you were busy up to the neck?

3 …you wished to spend a few days in the country?

4 …a friend of yours were in trouble?

5 …you waned to become a mining engineer?

6 …you had much luggage but could not hire a taxi?

7 …you suspected a friend of yours wanted to get rid of you?

Exercise 7 Ask similar questions (Ex-s 5, 6) and answer them.

Exercise 8 Complete the following sentences.

Perhaps he …, if you spoke to him yourself.