Fine Control in Complex Conditionals

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

Error correction

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 · Error correction

   Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.

   Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. Had the safeguard not been in place, the loss would been greater.

   Check answers and explanations

   Accepted answers

   Had the safeguard not been in place, the loss would have been greater.

   The past counterfactual result needs would have been.

2. Question 2 · Error correction

   Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.

   Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. Were the terms changed tomorrow, we would have reconsidered tomorrow.

   Check answers and explanations

   Accepted answers

   Were the terms changed tomorrow, we would reconsider tomorrow.

   The hypothetical future result uses would reconsider, not a perfect past result.

3. Question 3 · Error correction

   Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.

   Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. But for the audit, the discrepancy will have escaped notice last year.

   Check answers and explanations

   Accepted answers

   But for the audit, the discrepancy would have escaped notice last year.

   The explicit past counterfactual requires would have, not will have.

4. Question 4 · Error correction

   Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.

   Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. Should further evidence emerges, notify the panel.

   Check answers and explanations

   Accepted answers

   Should further evidence emerge, notify the panel.

   Inverted should takes a base verb.

5. Question 5 · Error correction

   Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.

   Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. Had she not intervened, matters would now have be worse.

   Check answers and explanations

   Accepted answers

   Had she not intervened, matters would now be worse.

   Now marks the present result of the unreal past condition.

6. Question 6 · Error correction

   Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.

   Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. If the warning had been clear, we could have acting sooner.

   Check answers and explanations

   Accepted answers

   If the warning had been clear, we could have acted sooner.

   Could have takes the past participle acted.

7. Question 7 · Error correction

   Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.

   Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. Were we to have known yesterday, we would objected yesterday.

   Check answers and explanations

   Accepted answers

   Were we to have known yesterday, we would have objected yesterday.

   The hypothetical past result requires would have objected.

8. Question 8 · Error correction

   Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.

   Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. If the original test had sufficed, no second test would have be needed.

   Check answers and explanations

   Accepted answers

   If the original test had sufficed, no second test would have been needed.

   The modal perfect passive needs have been needed.

9. Question 9 · Error correction

   Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.

   Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. Had approval been withheld, the project could not proceeded.

   Check answers and explanations

   Accepted answers

   Had approval been withheld, the project could not have proceeded. / Had approval been withheld, the project couldn't have proceeded.

   The past unreal result needs could not have proceeded.

10. Question 10 · Error correction

    Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.

    Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. If he were less cautious, he would have sign the contract yesterday.

    Check answers and explanations

    Accepted answers

    If he were less cautious, he would have signed the contract yesterday.

    The mixed conditional's past result needs have signed.

11. Question 11 · Error correction

    Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.

    Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. Should the agreement revoked, the rights already acquired would remain unaffected.

    Check answers and explanations

    Accepted answers

    Should the agreement be revoked, the rights already acquired would remain unaffected.

    Inverted should with a passive condition requires be revoked.

12. Question 12 · Error correction

    Rewrite the sentence, correcting the grammatical error.

    Correct the one language error. Write the complete corrected sentence. Had the records survived, we might had resolved the discrepancy.

    Check answers and explanations

    Accepted answers

    Had the records survived, we might have resolved the discrepancy.

    Might takes have plus a past participle for a past possibility.

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.