Mixed Conditionals: B2 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. If I ___ that post in Oslo, I ___ fluent in Norwegian by now. → had taken / would be

A past condition with a present result is the mixed conditional: past perfect plus would plus base.

2. If she ___ more organised, she ___ the deadline last month. → were / wouldn't have missed

A present characteristic explaining a past event takes past simple plus would have plus participle.

3. ___ we known about the clause, we would never have signed. → Had

Inverted third conditional drops if and begins with had plus the subject.

4. ___ the deal to collapse, we would lose the entire quarter. → Were

Inverted second conditional is were plus subject plus to plus infinitive.

5. ___ you require further assistance, please contact the front desk. → Should

Should plus subject plus base form is the polite formal conditional of correspondence.

6. ___ your help, the whole project would have collapsed in the first month. → But for

But for plus a noun phrase makes one factor responsible for preventing a disaster.

7. Entry is free ___ you register in advance on the website. → provided

Provided introduces a condition that must be met for the statement to hold.

8. Take an umbrella ___ it rains later this afternoon. → in case

In case describes a precaution taken because something might happen, not a condition.

9. Which sentence is INCORRECT? → Had I have known, I would have called.

The inverted form takes had plus the subject plus the participle, with no second have.

10. We will not proceed ___ the survey comes back clear. → unless

Unless means except if, so it carries the negative condition on its own.

11. If the vaccine ___ developed sooner, thousands ___ still alive. → had been / would be

A past cause with a continuing present result is the mixed conditional.

12. ___ any difficulties arise, the contractor is to be informed immediately. → Should

Should plus subject plus base is the formal conditional used in contracts and notices.

13. If he ___ such a heavy smoker, he ___ that operation last year. → weren't / wouldn't have needed

A present habit explaining a past consequence mixes past simple with would have plus participle.

14. The warranty applies ___ the device has not been opened. → as long as

As long as states the condition under which something remains true.

15. Which sentence is the formal equivalent of 'If we had been told earlier'? → Had we been told earlier

The past perfect passive inverts to had plus subject plus been plus participle.

16. ___ it not been for the ceasefire, the talks would have collapsed. → Had

Had it not been for is the inverted formal equivalent of but for.

17. I would take the job ___ the salary were negotiable. → provided

Provided sets the single condition on which the whole decision depends.

18. The difference between 'unless you register' and 'provided you register' is that ___. → unless states the negative condition, provided the positive one

Unless already contains the negative, so the two connectors describe opposite conditions.

19. ___ she to resign now, the whole restructuring would have to be paused. → Were

Were plus subject plus to plus infinitive is the formal inversion of an unlikely future condition.

20. If we ___ earlier, we ___ profitable by now rather than still borrowing. → had invested / would be

A missed past investment with a present financial result is a mixed conditional.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. If I ___ accepted the transfer, I would be living in Montreal today. → had

The past half of a mixed conditional takes the past perfect after if.

2. If she ___ less cautious, she would have taken the opportunity when it came. → were

A present characteristic in a mixed conditional uses the unreal past form of be.

3. ___ we known the ferry was cancelled, we would have driven instead. → Had

The inverted third conditional replaces if with this auxiliary before the subject.

4. ___ you wish to cancel, please notify us in writing within fourteen days. → Should

This modal plus a subject and base form is the formal conditional of correspondence.

5. ___ the company to relocate, several hundred jobs would go with it. → Were

The inverted second conditional uses this form of be plus subject plus to.

6. But ___ the weather, the launch would have gone ahead as planned. → for

But for plus a noun phrase makes one factor responsible for what did not happen.

7. The offer stands ___ long as you confirm before the end of the month. → as

As long as introduces a condition that must remain true for the offer to hold.

8. ___ you register in advance, entry to the exhibition is free. → Provided

This connector sets a positive condition and is common in formal notices.

9. We shall have to cancel ___ the numbers improve dramatically this week. → unless

This connector means except if and already carries the negative sense.

10. Bring the paperwork ___ case they ask to see proof of address. → in

In case introduces a precaution rather than a condition on the main clause.

11. ___ it not been for your intervention, the matter would have gone to court. → Had

This is the inverted formal equivalent of but for, using the past perfect.

12. If the roof ___ been repaired last autumn, the ceiling would not be stained now. → had

A past cause producing a visible present result takes the past perfect in the if clause.

13. If I spoke better German, I ___ have understood the whole presentation. → would

A present ability explaining a past failure takes would have plus a participle.

14. ___ any of the equipment prove faulty, it will be replaced at our expense. → Should

The formal inverted conditional is used for terms and warranties.

15. You may borrow the car ___ you fill the tank before returning it. → provided

This connector attaches a positive condition to permission.

16. ___ they to withdraw funding, the department would close within a year. → Were

Inverted second conditional with a plural subject still uses this form of be.

17. If she had listened to the surveyor, she ___ not be facing this bill. → would

The present result of a past mistake takes would plus the base form.

18. Even ___ the funding were doubled, the timetable would still be unrealistic. → if

Even if concedes the condition and denies that it would change the outcome.

19. ___ we to accept their terms, we would be signing away the licence. → Were

This inversion is the formal register alternative to if we accepted.

20. Had the alarm been tested, the fault ___ have been found in March. → would

The result clause of an inverted third conditional is unchanged from the if version.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Link a past decision to your present situation. → If I had taken that job, I would be in Oslo now.

Link a past decision to your present situation.

2. Blame a present characteristic for a past failure. → If she were more organised, she would have remembered.

Blame a present characteristic for a past failure.

3. Use the formal inversion instead of if. → Had we known, we would have acted sooner.

Use the formal inversion instead of if.

4. Invert an unlikely future condition formally. → Were the deal to collapse, we would lose everything.

Invert an unlikely future condition formally.

5. Write a polite conditional for a hotel notice. → Should you need assistance, please contact reception.

Write a polite conditional for a hotel notice.

6. Credit one factor with preventing a disaster. → But for your help, we would have failed.

Credit one factor with preventing a disaster.

7. State a positive condition. → Provided you register, entry is completely free.

State a positive condition.

8. State the exception that would allow you to proceed. → We cannot proceed unless the survey is clear.

State the exception that would allow you to proceed.

9. Describe a precaution, not a condition. → Take a coat in case the wind gets up.

Describe a precaution, not a condition.

10. Use the inverted formal equivalent of but for. → Had it not been for the fog, they would have landed.

Use the inverted formal equivalent of but for.

11. Mix a present ability with a past consequence. → If he spoke Mandarin, he would have got that contract.

Mix a present ability with a past consequence.

12. Concede a condition and deny that it helps. → Even if we doubled the budget, the date is impossible.

Concede a condition and deny that it helps.

13. Write a formal instruction with an inverted conditional. → Should the goods arrive damaged, retain the packaging.

Write a formal instruction with an inverted conditional.

14. Give advice in a formal register. → Were I in your position, I would seek advice.

Give advice in a formal register.

15. State the condition on which something remains valid. → As long as the seal is intact, the warranty holds.

State the condition on which something remains valid.

16. Explain a present financial position by a past decision. → If they had invested earlier, they would be profitable.

Explain a present financial position by a past decision.

17. Combine inversion with a passive condition. → Had the warning been issued, nobody would have drowned.

Combine inversion with a passive condition.

18. Present an unlikely event formally. → Were she to resign today, the board would struggle.

Present an unlikely event formally.

19. Close a meeting item with a negative condition. → Unless somebody objects, I shall take that as agreed.

Close a meeting item with a negative condition.

20. Blame a present state for something you missed earlier. → If I were not so tired, I would have noticed.

Blame a present state for something you missed earlier.