Counterfactual Meaning Preserved

Study the questions and tasks

Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.

Practice level

C2. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.

Question formats

Multiple choice

How to approach this practice

Read the complete context. Check both the meaning and the grammar, including word forms, collocations and links between sentences.

1. Question 1 · Multiple choice

   Choose all the correct answers.

   Choose TWO correct statements based on the information given. Had the inspection been completed, the fault could have been detected.

   1. The inspection was completed and the fault was detected.
   2. Completing the inspection would certainly have guaranteed detection.
   3. Completing the inspection would have made detection possible.
   4. There was a possible route to detecting the fault through completing the inspection.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Completing the inspection would have made detection possible.; There was a possible route to detecting the fault through completing the inspection.

   Could have denotes possible prevention, not guaranteed prevention or an actual event.

2. Question 2 · Multiple choice

   Choose all the correct answers.

   Choose TWO correct statements based on the information given. But for the review, the error would have gone unnoticed.

   1. The review prevented the error from escaping notice.
   2. The error went unnoticed despite the review.
   3. Without the review, the error would not have been noticed.
   4. The review caused the error to occur.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The review prevented the error from escaping notice.; Without the review, the error would not have been noticed.

   But for marks the intervention that changed the counterfactual outcome.

3. Question 3 · Multiple choice

   Choose all the correct answers.

   Choose TWO correct statements based on the information given. If she had accepted then, she would be leading the team now.

   1. Her present leadership caused her earlier acceptance.
   2. She accepted then and is leading now.
   3. She did not accept then, and the stated present result is unreal.
   4. Her past acceptance would have resulted in present leadership.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   She did not accept then, and the stated present result is unreal.; Her past acceptance would have resulted in present leadership.

   The mixed conditional links an unreal past choice to an unreal present result.

4. Question 4 · Multiple choice

   Choose all the correct answers.

   Choose TWO correct statements based on the information given. Were the conditions to change, we might reconsider.

   1. Reconsideration would be possible if conditions changed.
   2. A change in conditions could lead us to reconsider.
   3. Conditions have already changed and we have reconsidered.
   4. A change would necessarily force reconsideration.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Reconsideration would be possible if conditions changed.; A change in conditions could lead us to reconsider.

   Might marks possibility in a hypothetical future condition.

5. Question 5 · Multiple choice

   Choose all the correct answers.

   Choose TWO correct statements based on the information given. Without your intervention, matters would now be worse.

   1. Matters are worse now because you intervened.
   2. Had you not intervened, the present situation would be worse.
   3. Your intervention prevented the situation from being worse now.
   4. Your intervention necessarily solved every problem.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Had you not intervened, the present situation would be worse.; Your intervention prevented the situation from being worse now.

   The mixed counterfactual compares present reality with a worse alternative.

6. Question 6 · Multiple choice

   Choose all the correct answers.

   Choose TWO correct statements based on the information given. Had I known, I would not have consented.

   1. I knew and withheld consent.
   2. Learning the fact now can reverse the past consent event.
   3. My consent was given without that knowledge.
   4. With that knowledge, I would have withheld consent.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   My consent was given without that knowledge.; With that knowledge, I would have withheld consent.

   The past counterfactual contrasts actual uninformed consent with hypothetical informed refusal.

7. Question 7 · Multiple choice

   Choose all the correct answers.

   Choose TWO correct statements based on the information given. Even if the review had been delayed, the outcome would have been the same.

   1. The review's timing necessarily determined the outcome.
   2. The hypothetical delay is irrelevant to the stated outcome.
   3. A delay would certainly have reversed the outcome.
   4. A delay to the review would not have changed the outcome.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The hypothetical delay is irrelevant to the stated outcome.; A delay to the review would not have changed the outcome.

   Even if explicitly makes the counterfactual condition irrelevant to the result.

8. Question 8 · Multiple choice

   Choose all the correct answers.

   Choose TWO correct statements based on the information given. If the first test had been sufficient, no second test would have been needed.

   1. A second test would have been forbidden.
   2. A sufficient first test would have removed the need for a second.
   3. A second test would certainly never have occurred.
   4. The hypothetical result is absence of necessity for another test.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   A sufficient first test would have removed the need for a second.; The hypothetical result is absence of necessity for another test.

   No need denies necessity, not permission or possible occurrence.

9. Question 9 · Multiple choice

   Choose all the correct answers.

   Choose TWO correct statements based on the information given. Had the records survived, the dispute might have been settled.

   1. A settlement would have been possible, though not certain, with the records.
   2. The records survived and settlement is certain.
   3. Surviving records could have allowed a settlement.
   4. Surviving records would certainly have guaranteed settlement.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   A settlement would have been possible, though not certain, with the records.; Surviving records could have allowed a settlement.

   Might have retains uncertainty about the counterfactual outcome.

10. Question 10 · Multiple choice

    Choose all the correct answers.

    Choose TWO correct statements based on the information given. If he were less cautious, he would have signed yesterday.

    1. With a less cautious disposition, yesterday's signing would have occurred.
    2. He signed yesterday because he is cautious.
    3. He must become less cautious before yesterday can change.
    4. His present cautious disposition explains his not signing yesterday.
    Check answers and explanations

    Answer

    With a less cautious disposition, yesterday's signing would have occurred.; His present cautious disposition explains his not signing yesterday.

    The mixed conditional connects an enduring trait with an unreal past action.

11. Question 11 · Multiple choice

    Choose all the correct answers.

    Choose TWO correct statements based on the information given. Should further evidence emerge, the decision may be revised.

    1. New evidence could prompt a revision.
    2. The decision has already been revised without evidence.
    3. A revision is possible if further evidence emerges.
    4. New evidence guarantees revision.
    Check answers and explanations

    Answer

    New evidence could prompt a revision.; A revision is possible if further evidence emerges.

    Inverted should introduces a tentative future condition; may keeps the result possible.

12. Question 12 · Multiple choice

    Choose all the correct answers.

    Choose TWO correct statements based on the information given. Had the safeguard failed, the consequences would have been serious.

    1. Failure of the safeguard would have led to serious consequences.
    2. The safeguard failed and serious consequences occurred.
    3. The stated serious outcome belongs to an unreal past alternative.
    4. The sentence proves no serious consequences occurred from any cause.
    Check answers and explanations

    Answer

    Failure of the safeguard would have led to serious consequences.; The stated serious outcome belongs to an unreal past alternative.

    The counterfactual describes one unreal causal route, without excluding unrelated serious events.

What to review next

Explain why each answer fits the meaning and structure. Record useful phrases and write a new example using each pattern you found difficult.

A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.