FCE – INVERTED CONITIONALS

0 CONITIONAL
If you study, you pass
Should you study, you pass.

1st CONDITIONAL
If you study, you will pass.
Should you study, you will pass.

2nd CONDITIONAL
If you studied, you would pass.
Were you to study, you’d pass.

3rd CONDITIONAL
If you had studied, you’d have passed.
Had you studied, you’d have passed.

I didn’t go to the party because I had a cold.

WOULD
Had ____________________________gone to the party.

Inverting negatives
So far we've only looked at positive sentences. Notice that with inverted negative conditionals, we can't
use contractions :
 If she doesn't phone soon, we'll have to leave
Should she not phone soon, we'll have to leave.
NOT Shouldn't she phone, ...
 If he wasn't a diplomat, he wouldn't have immunity.
Were he not a diplomat, he wouldn't have immunity.
NOT Weren't he a diplomat, ...
 If he hadn't told me himself, I'd never have believed him.
Had he not told me himself, I'd never have believed him.
NOT Hadn't he told me himself, ...

If it wasn't / weren't / hadn't been for

This is an idiom used to say that "somebody/something stopped somebody/something from
happening"(Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary). As in Second conditionals, we can
use was or were (more formal).
We can invert these expressions in the same way as with Second and Third conditionals. And as with
Second conditionals, when we invert we must use were and not was.
Exercise 1 - transform the sentences using inversion

1. If it wasn't for this appalling weather, we could have gone out.

_______________________, we could have gone out.

2. We would have been here earlier if it hadn't been for the traffic jams.
We would have been here earlier _______________________.

3. If it hadn't been for those extra lessons, he would never have passed the exam.
_______________________, he would never have passed the exam.

4. Somehow I'd be doing alright if it wasn't for the nights. (Abba)

Somehow I'd be doing alright _______________________.

5. If it wasn't for his help, we'd never have managed.

_______________________, we'd never have managed.

LET’S PRACTICE!
1ST CONDITIONAL

Exercise 1 - Rewrite the conditional clause in inverted form

1. If she arrives late again, she could face disciplinary action.

_______________________, she could face disciplinary action.

2. Tell Paul to give me ring if you happen to see him.

Tell Paul to give me a ring _______________________.

3. If you're interested, there's a good play on at the theatre tonight.

_______________________, there's a good play on at the theatre tonight.

4. We can always employ extra staff if the need arises.

We can always employ extra staff _______________________.

5. If you need any more information, don't hesitate to contact me.

_______________________, don't hesitate to contact me.
 2ND CONDITIONAL

Exercise 2 - Rewrite the conditional clause in inverted form

1. If he was more sensible, he would see what the problem was.

_______________________, he would see what the problem was.

2. We would have to look for another partner if they refused to cooperate.

We would have to look for another partner _______________________.

3. If you were promising us early delivery, we could perhaps increase our order.
_______________________, we could perhaps increase our order.

4. If such a situation came about, the company could go bankrupt.

_______________________, the company could go bankrupt.

5. The government would act to defend the pound if it was necessary.

The government would act to save the pound _______________________.

3RD CONDITIONAL

Exercise 3 - Rewrite the conditional clause in inverted form

1. If she had been paying more attention, she would have noticed the red light.
_______________________, she would have noticed the red light.

2. I would have brought a present if I'd known it was your birthday.

I would have brought a present _______________________.

3. If the merger had gone through, it could have resulted in a lot of redundancies.
_______________________, it could have resulted in a lot of redundancies.

4. He might have become a great musician if he had lived longer.

He might have become a great musician _______________________.

5. If Japanese classes had been available, I would have taken them.

_______________________, I would have taken them.
 Key word transformation and conditionals

1. I think you should have your hair cut. (were)

If _______________________ have my hair cut.

2. You should have told me the truth (would)

It _______________________if you had told me the truth.

3. He forgot about the invitation so he didn't go to the dinner. (not)

Had _______________________the invitation, he would have gone to the dinner.

4. We will only sign the contract if he changes that clause (will)

Only if he changes that clause _______________________the contract.

5. He is afraid of heights, so he won't come climbing. ( were)

If he _______________________, he would come climbing.

6. As long as you give it back by Monday, you can borrow my book. (provided)
You can borrow my book _______________________by Monday.

7. Melany can prepare the essay but she will have to be given instructions. ( only)
Melany can prepare the essay _______________________instructions.

8. As long as you have a ticket, you will be allowed on the train. ( not)
Unless you have a ticket you _______________________on the train.