You are on page 1of 3

1. The exam was too difficult. I didn't pass it.

I would have passed the exam if it hadn't been too difficult.

2. My car broke down. That's why I arrived late.


I wouldn't have arrived late if my car hadn't broken down.

3. I didn't become ill because I didn't eat the fish.


I would have become ill if I had eaten fish.

4. The phone didn't work properly. That's why I couldn't speak to you.
I could have spoken to you if the phone had worked properly.

5. The thief ran too fast. The police didn't catch him.
The police would have caught the thief if he hadn't run too fast.

6. The government won't win the elections unless they create employment.
The government wouldn't win the elections if they didn't create employment.

7. I'll buy a new computer provided that I get a rise in salary.


I'll buy a new computer if I get a rise in salary.
I'd buy a new computer if I got a rise in salary.

8. She wanted to buy that picture, but she didn't have enough money.
She could (would) have bought that picture if she had had enough money.

9. Whenever I make a promise, I keep it.


I keep a promise if I make it.

10. We haven't got any matches, so we can't light a fire.


We could light a fire if we had (got) some matches.

11. I didn't go to Helen's party because she didn't invite me.


I would have gone to Helen's party if she had invited me.

12. We'll go to the beach unless it rains.


We'll go to the beach if it doesn't rain.

13. Ann can't buy a new car because she hasn't got enough money.
Ann could buy a new car if she had (got) enough money.

14. You can get access to the Intranet only by having a password.
You can get access to the Intranet only if you have a password.

15. She feels lonely since she hasn't got any friends.
She wouldn't feel lonely if she had (got) some friends.

16. Carlos Sainz didn't win the Monte Carlo Rally because his car broke down.
Carlos Sainz would have won the MC Rally if his car hadn't broken down.

17. You require more information? Ask at the desk.


Ask at the desk if you require more information.
18. Jim missed the plane because he arrived late at the airport.
Jim wouldn't have missed the plane if he hadn't arrived late at the airport.

19. I don't have a modem, so I can't e-mail you.


I could e-mail you if I had a modem.

20. I didn't send them a postcard because I didn't know their new address.
I would have sent them a postcard if I had known their new address.

21. She isn't passing her exams because she isn't studying hard enough.
She will pass (will be passing) her exams if she studies enough.
She would pass (would be passing) her exams if she were (was) studying enough.

22. I'd like to buy a bigger flat, but I haven't got enough money.
I'd buy a bigger flat if I'd got enough money.

23. I didn't get to the meeting on time because my car broke down.
I would have got to the meeting on time if my car hadn't broken down.

24. I never travel by plane because I get ear ache.


I would travel by plane if I didn't get ear ache.

25. I won't go to the party unless you come with me.


I would go to the party if you came with me.

26. I wasn’t told about his situation. That’s why I dismissed him.
I wouldn't have dismissed him if I had been told his situation.

27. The restaurant was so full that we couldn't get a table.


We could have got a table if the restaurant hadn't been so full.

28. You can attend the meeting as long as you are a club member.
You can (could) attend the meeting if you are (were) a club member.

29. I'm too busy to go to the pub.


I'd go to the pub if I weren't too busy.

30. Ice melts down when you heat it.


Ice melts if you heat it.

31. I didn't renew my subscription because I lost interest in the magazine's articles.
I would have renewed my subscription if I hadn't lost interest in the magazine's articles.

32. He was too slow to win the race.


He would have won the race if he hadn't been too slow.

33. I won't go to Rio unless I find a cheap flight.


I will (would) go to Rio if I find (found) a cheap flight.

34. I never sunbathe because I get sunburnt easily.


I would sunbathe if I didn't get sunburnt easily.
35. She will understand you provided that you don't speak too fast.
She will understand you if you don't speak too fast.

36. He won't come for a drink because he's got work to do.
He would come for a drink if he hadn't got work to do.

37. She's too young to get a driving licence.


She could get a driving license if she weren't too young.

38. They lost the match because of the heavy rain.


They wouldn't have lost the match if it hadn't been raining.

39. Whenever Peter and I meet, we talk about the good old times.
Peter and I talk about the good old times if we meet.

40. Should you see Paul, tell him about the meeting.
Tell Paul about the meeting if you see him.
Would you tell Paul about the meeting if you saw him?

You might also like