Grammar foe CEF-Level C1: Conditionals - Thẩm Tâm Vy

 Thẩm Tâm Vy, August 30, 2018 GRAMMAR POINTS CEF – LEVEL C1 
GRAMMAR FOE CEF – LEVEL C1 
CONDITIONALS 
Using conditionals to express formality 
 conditional + i f f should 
 conditional + if+ were to 
 inversion of conditionals 
 In this lesson, we will learn other ways of using conditionals to express uncertainty 
and/or formality. We also learn how to form inversion of conditionals by not using the 
if conjunction. 
Conditionals with if + should 
 A more formal way of talking about a possible future situation is to use should in the 
conditional clause. For example, instead of saying If the letter arrives tomorrow, I will 
reply immediately, we can say If the letter should arrive tomorrow, I will reply 
immediately. 
 - If you should see him, tell him I called. 
 - If that should happen, you will be blamed. 
Conditionals with If + were to 
 Another way of talking about a possible future situation is to use were and a to-
infinitive in a conditional clause. For example, instead of saying If you went to France 
next year, I would go too. we can say If you were to go to France next year, I would go 
too. 
 - If you were to marry him, I would never speak to you again. 
 - If we were to move to Nottingham, we would be able to buy a cheaper house. 
Inversion in conditionals 
 If the first verb in an if-clause is should, were or had, this verb is sometimes put at the 
beginning of the clause and if is omitted. 
 For example, we can say Should I be there, I will speak to them instead of If I should 
be there, I will speak to them. 
 - Should ministers demand an inquiry, we would welcome it. 
 - Were they to stop advertising, prices would be significantly reduced. 
 - Had I known what you wanted, I ’d have called. 
 - You can call our toll-free number, should you require assistance. 
Remember! 
Inversion tends to be used in formal or literary English. 
PRACTICE 
I. Decide if the pairs of sentences have the same meaning. 
1. A. Were she to ask my opinion, I'd tell her what I think 
 B. It's not very likely she'll ask for my opinion, but if she does, I'll tell her.  
2. A. If you were to be elected, what changes would you make? 
 B. What changes would you have made if you'd been elected?  
3. A. Had I tried harder, I might have done better. 
 B. If the post should come early, can you put it on my desk?  
4. A. The post might come early. If it does, can you put it on my desk? 
 B. You know where to find me if by any chance you want to talk to me.  
II. Choose the correct word. 
1. Were / Should I to call a meeting, do you think people would come? 
2. If the letter should / would arrive tomorrow, I'll let you know straight away. 
3. When / Had I realized you were sick, I would have come to visit you. 
4. Should / Were Sven decide to come to the festival, I'll book him a ticket. 
5. Were / Had it not for you, I'd have given up a long time ago. 
6. Should / If you were to agree to work for US, how many hours could you do? 
III. Complete the sentences by writing one word in each gap. 
do / would / have / is / did / should / had / are /were 
1. I'd have called back earlier, ...........I known what you wanted. 
2. Please contact us in writing.............you require any further information. 
3. He wouldn't have anything to talk about, .............it not for his interest in wild flowers. 
4. I'll consider accepting the post if the senior managers who interviewed 
me..........serious about the project, but I'm not convinced of it. 
5. Had you asked Clarissa to go with you, she.............definitely have said yes. 
6. If you should see Amanda, could you tell her the police..........been looking for her for 
the last week? 
7. I don't expect him to remember that I'm allergic to shellfish - in fact, I'd be amazed if 
he............. 
IV. Are the highlighted words correct or incorrect in the sentences? 
1. If I should  lend your brother this book, can you make sure I get it back? 
2. Were Fiona to invite you to her wedding, what did  you say? 
3. Had he  not been for Kevin, I'd never have passed my driving test. 
4. Had  you wish to discuss anything further, please don’t hesitate to contact me. 
5. Had I known  that Mary was bringing Pierre with her, I'd have gone out. 
6. If Harry should  ask you to marry him, would you say yes? 
V. Which sentences are correct? 
1. Weren't it for Angela, I wouldn't be here now. 
2. Should anyone wish to join us for a snack, we'll be in the café on the corner. 
3. If Nina were come to the party, who do you think she would bring with her? 
4. If the car were to break down again, I wouldn't bother trying to fix it yourself. 
5. Had I realized you were waiting for me in the hall all that time, I'd get ready more 
quickly. 
6. He'd have refused to pay the builders, had he realized how little work had been done. 
VI. Write the missing words in sentence B so that it means the same as sentence A. 
1. A. If it wasn't for Petra, Amir would never do any travelling. 
 B. .................not for Petra, Amir would never do any travelling. 
2. A If I played this computer game all day, do you think I'd get to the end of it? 
 Thẩm Tâm Vy, August 30, 2018 GRAMMAR POINTS CEF – LEVEL C1 
 B If I were................this computer game all day, do you think I'd get to the end of it? 
3. A. If by any chance the door's locked when you arrive, use this key. 
 B. Should the door.................when you arrive, use this key. 
4. A. If I'd known you were coming, I'd have baked a cake! 
 B. Had.................you were coming, I'd have baked a cake! 
ANSWER KEY 
I. 
1. Yes 2. No 3. No 4. Yes 5. Yes 
II. 
1 Were 2 should 3 Had 4. Should 5. Were 6. If 
III. 
1. had 2. should 3. were 4. are 5. would 6. have 7. did 
IV. 
1. should  2. did  3. he  
4. Had X => If 5. known  6. should  
V. 
1. No 2. Yes 3. No 4. Yes 5. No 6. Yes 
VI. 
1. Were it 2. to play 3. be locked 4. I known