Variations of the basic form. a) In the if-clause we can use the perfect continuous:

a) In the if-clause we can use the perfect continuous:

 

e.g. You were driving too fast. If you had been going more slowly, you’d have been able to stop.

 

b) We can put “had” first and omit the “if”. But this is a very formal construction. e.g. Had the Minister known all the facts, he would have acted differently.

c) In the main clause we can use “might” or “could”.

e.g. If you’d asked him, he might have helped you (possibility).

 

1. Change the following sentences as shown in the example.

 

e.g. The boy didn’t play tennis because it was windy.

 

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* If it hadn’t been windy, the boy would have played tennis.

1. Helen didn’t stay on after dinner because she was tired.

2. Mrs Barton didn’t make an apple pie because Henry didn’t ask her to.

3. The children didn’t watch television because mother didn’t allow them to.

4. The girl was unhappy because her parents were displeased with her.

5. Mr Alien didn’t cash the check because the bank was closed.

 

6. Ralph introduced his friends to Kate because she didn’t know them.

7. Bob was angry because his friends didn’t agree with him.

8. Mr Lane didn’t work in the garden because the weather was cold.

9. Monica stayed at home because she had a sore throat.

10. Mr Kelly took his umbrella because it was raining.

11. He had difficulty with his English because English was not his mother tongue.

 

12. He learned French because he wanted to read French poetry in the original.

 

2. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tenses.

 

1. If I (know) that you were coming I’d have baked a cake.

2. I (offer) to help him it I had realized that he was ill.

3. If I had realized that the traffic lights were red I (stop).

 

4. If you had told me that he never paid his debts I (not lend) him the money.

5. If you (put) some mustard in the sandwiches they would have tasted better.

6. The hens (not get) into the house if you had shut the door.

7. If he had known that the river was dangerous he (not try) to swim across it.

8. If you (speak) more slowly he might have understood you.

9. If he had known the whole story he (not be) so angry.

 

10. If you hadn’t been in such a hurry you (not put) sugar into the sauce instead of salt.

 

11. If I had known that you were in hospital I (visit) you.

12. I (take) a taxi if I had realized that it was such a long way.

13. You would have seen my garden at its best if you (be) here last week.

14. If I (have) a map I would have been all right.

15. If I (realize) what a bad driver you were I wouldn’t have come with you.

 

16. If I (try) again I think that I would have succeeded.

17. You (not get) into trouble if you had obeyed my instructions.

18. You (save) me a lot of trouble if you had told me where you were going.

 

3. Rewrite these sentences using an inverted subject + auxiliary.

 

e.g. If I had understood Spanish, I would have known what to do.

*Had I understood Spanish, I would have known what to do.

 

1. I’d have rung if I’d known the plane was late.

2. If father hadn’t heard me come in he wouldn’t have said anything.

 

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3. If I had heard the phone ring I would have answered it.

 

4. If you went to the States you would speak English.

5. If I were in his position I would do something about the situation.

6. If they hadn’t tried Chinese food they couldn’t have said they didn’t like it.

7. If it weren’t for Tim I’d be in Holland now.

8. If she had spoken to me that night I would have forgiven her.

 

4. Finish these situations that didn’t happen.

 

1. If Hitler hadn’t invaded Poland in 1939... (World War II/to break out)

2. If Columbus had stayed in Italy... (to discover/America)

 

3. If Sir Walter Raleigh hadn’t brought tobacco back to Britain … (cigarettes/to be invented)

 

4. It wouldn’t have been possible for mass tourism to develop, if... (the airplane/to be developed)

 

5. If nobody had invented the wheel... (there/to be/cars)

6. If Shakespeare hadn’t been born... (“Macbeth”/to be written)

 

5. Complete these sentences.

 

1. If I had been born in England...

2. If I had been a genius...

3. If I had studied harder when I was younger...

4. If my parents had been richer...

5. If I had got married last year...

6. If I had started using computers when I was eight years old...

 

7. If I had studied Chinese at school...

8. If you had phoned me yesterday...

9. If Christopher Columbus had not discovered America...

 

Special uses of ‘will’ and ‘would’ in if-clauses

 

1. The negative of ‘will’ in the if-clause has the same meaning as ‘refuse to’. Therefore, we can use

“if” + “won’t” + infinitive instead of “if” + “refuse/refuses” + infinitive:

 

e.g. If they won’t take cheques, we’ll have to pay cash. (If they refuse to take cheques, we’ll have to pay cash.)

 

2. “If” + “would like/care” can replace “if” + “want”.

 

e.g. If you’d like to go to the concert, I’ll get you a ticket. (If you want to go to the concert, I’ll get you a ticket.)