Conditional Sentences Practice Test (Advanced): 45 Questions

Q1___ the client to request a refund, we would be obligated to process it immediately.

Answer: D. Were

This is an inverted second conditional. The structure 'Were + subject + to-infinitive' is used to express a remote hypothetical future event in formal English. 'Should' is incorrect here because it requires a bare infinitive ('Should the client request'). 'If' is a subordinator that requires standard word order ('If the client were to request') rather than inversion. 'Had' is used for third conditional past counterfactuals and requires a past participle.

Q2___ I known about the potential risks, I would never have agreed to the merger.

Answer: C. Had

This sentence uses inversion in a third conditional to express a past counterfactual — a situation that did not happen. 'Had I known' replaces 'If I had known'. 'Were' and 'Should' are used for present or future hypotheticals and cannot be followed by the past participle 'known' in this position. 'If' is incorrect here because it would require the auxiliary 'had' to follow the subject ('If I had known').

Q3___ you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact the department.

Answer: A. Should

The operator 'Should' is used in first conditional inversion to express a tentative future possibility, common in formal correspondence. It functions as the auxiliary for the bare infinitive 'require'. 'Were' would require a 'to-infinitive' ('Were you to require'), and 'Had' would require a past participle ('Had you required') to form a past counterfactual, which does not fit the polite present request.

Q4Identify the correct sentence:

Answer: C. Had he been more careful, he would not have fallen.

The correct structure for an inverted third conditional (a past counterfactual) is 'Had + subject + past participle'. In 'Had he been more careful', 'been' is the required past participle. 'Had he be' incorrectly uses a bare infinitive; 'Had he will be' is ungrammatical as it combines a past auxiliary with a future modal; and 'Had he to be' uses an infinitive structure that does not express a past counterfactual.

Q5Choose the grammatically correct version: Were the committee to rejected the proposal, we would have to start from scratch.

Answer: A. Were the committee to reject the proposal, we would have to start from scratch.

The inverted second conditional structure 'Were + subject + to-infinitive' requires the base form of the verb. 'Were the committee to reject' correctly uses the present infinitive to describe a hypothetical future. 'To rejected' is a morphological error; 'to have rejected' uses a perfect infinitive which implies a past action, clashing with the result clause 'would have to'; and 'to rejecting' incorrectly uses a gerund.

Q6Choose the grammatically correct version: Had I have known about the delay, I would have arrived earlier.

Answer: D. Had I known about the delay, I would have arrived earlier.

In third conditional inversion, 'Had' functions as the sole auxiliary before the subject. 'Had I known' is the correct inverted form of 'If I had known'. The construction 'Had I have known' contains a redundant auxiliary 'have'. 'Had I had known' is also redundant, and 'Had I been known' incorrectly uses the passive voice, which would mean 'If people had known me'.

Q7___ they to withdraw their support, the entire project would be jeopardized.

Answer: A. Were

The use of 'to + infinitive' (to withdraw) after the subject indicates an inverted second conditional, which is formed with 'Were'. 'Were they to withdraw' is a formal alternative to 'If they withdrew'. 'Should' would require the bare infinitive 'withdraw'. 'Did' is not used for conditional inversion in English, and 'Had' requires a past participle to form a counterfactual.

Q8___ the board to approve the budget, we would begin construction immediately.

Answer: D. Were

The 'Were + subject + to-infinitive' construction is used for formal hypothetical future situations. 'Had' is incorrect because it requires a past participle ('Had the board approved'). 'Should' requires a bare infinitive ('Should the board approve'). 'If' is a subordinator that requires standard subject-verb order (e.g., 'If the board were to approve') rather than the inverted order seen here.

Q9___ you decide to proceed, you must sign the agreement by Friday.

Answer: D. Should

The modal 'Should' is used in formal inverted conditionals to indicate a possible future event. It precedes the subject and takes the bare infinitive 'decide'. 'Were' would require the 'to-infinitive' ('Were you to decide'), and 'Had' would require the past participle 'decided'. 'Unless' reverses the condition and would mean 'sign the agreement unless you decide to proceed', which is the opposite of the intended meaning.

Q10Identify the correct sentence:

Answer: A. Should you need assistance, please call us.

In a formal inverted conditional clause, 'Should' functions as a modal auxiliary and must be followed by a bare infinitive ('need'). 'Should you needed' incorrectly uses a past tense form; 'Should you will need' is a double modal error; and 'Should you to need' incorrectly uses a 'to-infinitive', which is only permitted with 'Were'.

Q11___ I realized the gravity of the situation, I would have acted differently.

Answer: B. Had

This is an inverted third conditional (past counterfactual). The past participle 'realized' and the result clause 'would have acted' require the auxiliary 'Had'. 'Did' and 'Should' would both require the bare infinitive 'realize'. 'Were' would require the 'to-infinitive' ('Were I to realize') and would shift the meaning from a past regret to a future hypothetical.

Q12___ you to encounter any technical difficulties, please report them to IT.

Answer: D. Were

The presence of 'to encounter' (a to-infinitive) indicates an inverted second conditional, which is specifically formed with 'Were'. 'Had' and 'Should' are incompatible with the 'to' particle in this context. 'If' is a subordinator and cannot appear in this inverted position; it would require a standard phrase like 'If you were to encounter'.

Q13___ the evidence been conclusive, the judge would have ruled in our favor.

Answer: D. Had

The past participle 'been' and the result clause 'would have ruled' signal a third conditional counterfactual (past). 'Had' is the correct auxiliary for inversion here. 'If' is incorrect because it requires the auxiliary within the clause ('If the evidence had been'). 'Should' and 'Were' are for present or future hypotheticals and cannot be followed by 'been' in this grammatical frame.

Q14___ the evidence to be conclusive, the judge would have ruled in our favor.

Answer: B. Were

This is an inverted mixed conditional. 'Were the evidence to be' refers to a hypothetical state (inverted for formality); the result 'would have ruled' refers to a past counterfactual outcome. 'Were' is the only operator that licenses the 'to-infinitive' ('to be'). 'Had' would require a past participle ('Had the evidence been'), which would make it a standard third conditional.

Q15Choose the grammatically correct version: Should you will encounter any issues, please let us know immediately.

Answer: D. Should you encounter any issues, please let us know immediately.

In first conditional inversion, the modal 'Should' must be followed by a bare infinitive ('encounter'). 'Should you encountered' incorrectly uses a past tense. 'Should you to encounter' incorrectly uses a 'to-infinitive'. 'Should you will encounter' is a double modal error, which is ungrammatical in standard English.

Q16A true professional ___ under those circumstances last year.

Answer: A. would have resigned

This is an implied conditional where the subject 'A true professional' acts as the 'if' clause ('If he had been a true professional'). The time marker 'last year' indicates a past counterfactual, necessitating the third conditional result clause 'would have resigned'. 'Had resigned' is indicative; 'would resign' is for present hypotheticals; and 'will resign' is for real future situations.

Q17With more funding, the research team ___ the project last year.

Answer: A. could have completed

The phrase 'With more funding' functions as an implied conditional ('If they had had more funding'). Because the timeframe is 'last year', we need a third conditional result clause. 'Could have completed' expresses past ability in a counterfactual scenario. 'Will complete' and 'would complete' refer to the future or present, while 'had completed' is a past perfect indicative form.

Q18I would have liked to attend the conference, but I had a previous engagement. Otherwise, I ___ there.

Answer: A. would have been

The word 'Otherwise' functions as an implied negative conditional ('If I hadn't had a previous engagement'). Since the situation occurred in the past, the counterfactual result must use the third conditional form 'would have been'. 'Will be' and 'would be' are tense-inappropriate for a past event, and 'had been' is the indicative past perfect.

Q19Without your help last year, I ___.

Answer: D. would have failed

The prepositional phrase 'Without your help' implies a past counterfactual condition ('If you hadn't helped me'). Combined with 'last year', this requires a third conditional result clause 'would have failed'. 'Will fail' and 'fail' refer to future or habitual real situations, and 'would fail' is used for present or future hypotheticals.

Q20Choose the grammatically correct version: I wish I would have known about the party; I would have gone.

Answer: D. I wish I had known about the party; I would have gone.

The verb 'wish' triggers a backshift in tense. To express regret about a past situation, the past perfect ('had known') is required. While 'would have known' is common in some dialects, it is considered incorrect in formal English. 'I knew' would express a present wish, and 'would know' would express a wish for a future change in someone's behavior.

Q21He acts as if he ___ the CEO himself, but he is just an intern.

Answer: B. were

After 'as if' or 'as though', the were-subjunctive is used to describe a counterfactual or hypothetical present state. It signals that the situation is not true. 'Had been' would imply a past counterfactual state (he was previously the CEO), and the indicative 'is' would imply the speaker believes the statement is actually true, which contradicts the fact that he is an intern. 'Was' is common in speech but 'were' is standard in formal contexts.

Q22But for your intervention, the deal ___ through.

Answer: B. would have fallen

The formal phrase 'But for' means 'If it had not been for', creating an implied third conditional (past counterfactual). The logical result is 'would have fallen'. 'Will fall' and 'would fall' refer to non-past timeframes, and 'had fallen' is an indicative past perfect that lacks the modal 'would' required for a conditional result.

Q23I wish I ___ more time to study before the exam.

Answer: C. had had

This expresses regret about a past state (the time available before an exam that has already passed). 'Wish' requires the past perfect ('had had') for past regrets. The first 'had' is the auxiliary and the second is the main verb. 'Would have had' is a common error after 'wish', and 'have' or 'would have' fail to reflect the past counterfactual nature of the statement.

Q24Under different circumstances, we ___ the contract.

Answer: A. could have signed

The phrase 'Under different circumstances' implies a counterfactual past condition ('If circumstances had been different'). This requires a third conditional result clause like 'could have signed', which expresses past possibility. 'Sign' and 'will sign' are for real, non-past contexts, and 'had signed' is an indicative form rather than a conditional result clause.

Q25He talks as if he ___ everything, but he actually knows nothing.

Answer: D. knew

The phrase 'as if' indicates a hypothetical situation contrary to fact. For a hypothetical present, the past simple ('knew') is used to indicate distancing from reality. 'Knows' would suggest the speaker believes he might actually know everything, which the second clause ('he actually knows nothing') refutes. 'Will know' and 'has known' do not fit the present hypothetical context.

Q26I wish you ___ me about the meeting earlier.

Answer: A. had told

Regrets about a past action in 'wish' clauses require the past perfect. 'Had told' correctly backshifts from the past simple. 'Would have told' is a common grammatical error in this context. 'Told' would imply a present wish, and 'have told' is the present perfect, which is not used after 'wish'.

Q27___ for the rain, we would have enjoyed the picnic.

Answer: B. Had it not been

This is a third conditional inversion of the idiom 'If it hadn't been for'. 'Had it not been' creates the past counterfactual required by the result clause 'would have enjoyed'. 'If it weren't' and 'Were it not' are second conditional forms for present hypotheticals. 'Had it not be' is incorrect because the auxiliary 'had' must be followed by the past participle 'been'.

Q28Choose the grammatically correct version: I wish I would be able to fly.

Answer: A. I wish I could fly.

To express a wish regarding a present or future ability, 'could' is the standard modal. 'I wish I could fly' reflects the subjunctive-like backshift. 'Am able' and 'will be able' are indicative and ungrammatical after 'wish'. 'Would be able' is generally avoided when expressing one's own ability, as 'would' typically expresses a desire for a change in someone else's behavior.

Q29A rational person ___ that offer immediately.

Answer: D. would have accepted

The subject 'A rational person' functions as an implied 'if' clause ('If the person had been rational'). This implies a past counterfactual scenario, requiring the third conditional result 'would have accepted'. 'Will accept' and 'accepts' are for real or habitual situations, and 'had accepted' is a past perfect indicative form, not a conditional result.

Q30Identify the correct sentence:

Answer: D. If only I knew the answer.

'If only' functions like 'wish' regarding tense backshifting. To express a desire for a different present state, the past simple 'knew' is used. 'Know' and 'have known' are indicative and do not express the hypothetical mood. 'Would know' would be used to express a wish for a future change in someone else's state.

Q31We will grant the loan, ___ that you provide collateral.

Answer: D. provided

'Provided (that)' is a conditional conjunction meaning 'only if' and is followed by a full clause. 'Subject' and 'contingent' are adjectives that require prepositions ('subject to' or 'contingent upon') and noun phrases. 'In the event' usually requires the preposition 'of' or the subordinator 'that', but 'provided' is the most idiomatic choice for a requirement.

Q32___ the event that you need assistance, please contact the help desk.

Answer: D. In

The fixed prepositional phrase is 'In the event that', which is a formal alternative to 'if'. 'Subject' requires 'to', and 'Given' usually introduces a known fact rather than a hypothetical event. 'Assuming' is a conjunction that does not collocate with 'the event that' in this structure.

Q33The bonus is ___ your performance review results.

Answer: C. subject to

The phrase 'subject to' is followed by a noun phrase ('your performance review results') and means 'dependent on'. 'Provided that', 'assuming that', and 'given that' are all conjunctions that must be followed by a full clause containing a subject and a verb.

Q34Identify the correct sentence:

Answer: B. Assuming that he arrives, we will start.

'Assuming that' sets a condition for a real future event (Type 1 conditional). It uses the present simple ('arrives') in the condition clause and a future modal ('will start') in the result clause. 'Arrived' or 'would arrive' would suggest a hypothetical situation, which would then require 'would start' in the result clause.

Q35Choose the grammatically correct version: Provided that you will pay the fee, the service will be activated.

Answer: C. Provided that you pay the fee, the service will be activated.

In conditional clauses introduced by 'provided that', 'if', or 'unless', the present simple ('pay') is used to refer to future time. Using the future modal 'will pay' is redundant and non-standard in this type of subordinate clause. 'Would pay' is for hypotheticals, and 'to pay' does not form a finite clause.

Q36___ that the data is accurate, we can proceed with the analysis.

Answer: C. Given

'Given that' is a complex subordinator used to introduce a premise or a fact that is the basis for a conclusion. 'Depending' requires 'on'. 'In the event' introduces a future possibility, not a current premise. 'Subject' is an adjective requiring 'to' and a noun phrase.

Q37The offer is valid ___ you accept by Friday.

Answer: A. provided

'Provided' (often with 'that') is a conjunction used to state a necessary condition for a result to happen. 'In the event' requires 'that' to introduce a clause. 'Subject to' requires a noun phrase ('subject to your acceptance'). 'Assuming' is possible but less standard than 'provided' for formal offers.

Q38___ your approval, we will finalize the documents.

Answer: D. Contingent upon

'Contingent upon' is a prepositional phrase followed by a noun phrase ('your approval'). 'Assuming that', 'Provided that', and 'In the event that' are all subordinating conjunctions that must be followed by a full clause with a subject and a finite verb.

Q39Identify the correct sentence:

Answer: A. In the event of a fire, use the stairs.

The phrase 'In the event of' is followed by a noun phrase ('a fire'). The main clause here is an imperative ('use the stairs'), which is the standard way to provide instructions for specific contingencies. 'Would use', 'used', and 'using' are grammatically incomplete for an imperative command.

Q40Choose the grammatically correct version: Subject to you agree, we will sign the contract.

Answer: B. Subject to your agreement, we will sign the contract.

The phrase 'subject to' functions as a preposition and requires a noun phrase ('your agreement') or a gerund. 'Subject to you agree' and 'Subject to you agreed' are ungrammatical because they treat 'subject to' as a conjunction. 'Subject to you agreeing' is a possible gerund structure but is less formal than the noun phrase 'your agreement'.

Q41___ that the weather holds, the ceremony will take place outdoors.

Answer: D. Assuming

'Assuming that' is a conditional subordinator used to establish a future condition. 'Unless' is not followed by 'that' in standard English ('unless the weather holds', not 'unless that'); it also reverses the condition to a negative one. 'Subject' and 'depending' are not conjunctions and require 'to' and 'on' respectively to function in this sentence.

Q42The agreement is ___ strict adherence to the safety protocols.

Answer: C. contingent upon

'Contingent upon' is a prepositional phrase followed by a noun phrase ('strict adherence...') to indicate dependency. 'Provided that', 'assuming that', and 'given that' are subordinating conjunctions that require a clause (subject + verb) rather than a simple noun phrase.

Q43Choose the grammatically correct version: Provided that the meeting will finish on time, we can go to lunch.

Answer: A. Provided that the meeting finishes on time, we can go to lunch.

In a real future conditional introduced by 'provided that', the present simple ('finishes') must be used. 'Will finish' is a common error of redundant future-marking. 'To finish' is non-finite and cannot act as the main verb of the clause, while 'would finish' is reserved for second conditional hypotheticals.

Q44___ you require more space, let us know.

Answer: C. Should

This is a formal first conditional inversion. 'Should' moves to the initial position and the subordinator 'if' is omitted, forming 'Should you require...' as the equivalent of 'If you require...'. 'Unless' reverses the condition to a negative meaning ('if you do not require'). 'While' expresses a temporal relationship, not a condition. 'Given' introduces a known fact or premise rather than a hypothetical possibility.

Q45Identify the correct sentence:

Answer: B. Given that he is experienced, he is the best candidate.

'Given that' introduces a known fact or premise. Because the candidate's experience is treated as a fact here, the indicative 'is' is the correct form. 'Were' (subjunctive) and 'had been' (past perfect) imply a hypothetical or past state that does not match the present-tense conclusion 'he is the best candidate'.

Conditional Sentences Practice Test — Advanced

What this test covers

All 45 questions with answers