[Unit 8B] Conditionals

Question 1

[reformulate with ‘if it weren’t’ or ‘if it hadn’t been’]

Thanks to your quick thinking, we didn’t miss our flight.
If _ your quick thinking in that situation, _ (still) stuck at the airport.

Answer 1

If it hadn’t been for your quick thinking in that situation, we’d still be stuck at the airport.

Question 2

[reformulate with ‘if it weren’t’ or ‘if it hadn’t been’]

I was only able to attend college because I got a scholarship.
If _ I wouldn’t have been able to attend college.

Answer 2

If it hadn’t been for that scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to attend college.

Question 3

[reformulate with ‘if it weren’t’ or ‘if it hadn’t been’]

Our business only got off the ground because we got a timely loan from the bank.

If _ the timely loan from the bank, our business would never have gotten off the ground.

Answer 3

If it hadn’t been for the timely loan from the bank, our business would never have gotten off the ground.

Question 4

[reformulate with ‘if it weren’t’ or ‘if it hadn’t been’]

I don’t have time for hobbies because of these long hours at work.

If _, _ more time for hobbies.

Answer 4

If it weren’t for these long hours at work, I’d have more time for hobbies.

Question 5

[reformulate with ‘if it weren’t’ or ‘if it hadn’t been’]

I only applied for that job because you encouraged me.
If it _, I wouldn’t have applied for that job.

Answer 5

If it hadn’t been for your encouragement, I wouldn’t have applied for that job.

Question 6

[reformulate with ‘if it weren’t’ or ‘if it hadn’t been’]

We had a chance meeting, and as a result, we became partners.
If _, we would never have become partners.

Answer 6

If it hadn’t been for that chance meeting, we would never have become partners.

Question 7

[reformulate with ‘if it weren’t’ or ‘if it hadn’t been’]

We can work remotely effectively because of the modern technology.
If _, we wouldn’t be able to work remotely as effectively.

Answer 7

If it weren’t for modern technology, we wouldn’t be able to work remotely as effectively.

Question 8

If you (tell) me about the problem earlier, I (could, help) you solve it by now.

Answer 8

If you had told me about the problem earlier, I could’ve helped you solve it by now.

Question 9

If you (be not) so busy, we (could, spend) more time together.

Answer 9

If you weren’t so busy, we could spend more time together.

Question 10

If you (be not) so busy last summer, we (could, spend) more time together.

Answer 10

If you hadn’t been so busy last summer, we could’ve spent more time together.

Question 11

If I (know) what you want, I (do) it ages ago.

Answer 11

If I knew what you want, I‘d have done it ages ago.

NB ‘d’ = would

Question 12

If you (not mention) it, I (still, be) in the dark.

Answer 12

If you hadn’t mentioned it, I’d still be in the dark.

Question 13

If I (be) you, I (speak up) during the meeting.

Answer 13

If I were you, I would have spoken up during the meeting.

Question 14

If he (study) harder for his entrance exams, he (could, be) in a better university now.

Answer 14

If he had studied harder for his entrance exams, he could be in a better university now.

Question 15

If you (not be) always so supportive, I (might, give up) on this idea long ago.

Answer 15

If you weren’t always so supportive, I might have given up on this idea long ago.

Question 16

If it (not be) for your advice, I (make) the wrong choice.

Answer 16

If it hadn’t been for your advice, I’d have made the wrong choice.

Question 17

If I (not overhear) that conversation, I (still, be) out of the loop.

Answer 17

If I hadn’t overheard that conversation, I’d still be out of the loop.