Практикум по грамматике английского языка (стр. 15 )

6. Modal verbs or phrases in conditional clauses.

Exercise 142. Analyze the form of the verb in the following sentences.

1. Other figures were flitting through the parade ground which the commander might have seen had he not slept so quietly. 2. If he could have overcome that Pennsylvania Dutch accent they’d have taken him. 3. I sold the farm to a cousin of mine, but I could buy it back if you were to insist. 4. If you went away from here you could not come back. 5. Ask John to help you, he is so clever. I think he could solve the problem for you. 6. If the weather was fine they might even have reached Grimsby and landed there. 7. It might all have been well if we had been a little more patient. 8. When I woke up at night I couldn’t understand where I was. 9. If we had been able to reach her in time, she might have called back. 10. If Martha might have been persuaded to join us, we wouldn’t have quarrelled. 11. She is a real peacemaker. Now if they could have just drawn anyone’s attention to the problem, everything would have been fine. 12. Somebody might remember something that would give us a clue to the woman’s identity. 13. I am sure there is something I could do to help him. 14. If you were able to come to my place tonight, I could show you my new picture.

Exercise pply the necessary forms for the verbs given in brackets.

1. He might (understand) everything if you had spoken not so fast. 2. What might (happen) if I pressed the button? 3. I sometimes wonder what I (to do) if I (can) have my time over again. 4. I couldn’t have got there on time if I (not notice) an earlier train. 5. I (to wire) to you if you (can, do) anything. 6. “Are you still thinking of going on that cruise?” “It (may, be) enjoyable,” he said, “if one (to have) just the right person to go with.” 7. I never tried to understand my brother. If I (to try) I (may, stop) him from going away. 8. She (can, go) to Cambridge if she (to want). 9. She had been offered a scholarship. If he (not to be) absorbed in his own thoughts he (may, take) notice of her remark. 10. The house looked awful. If I (to be) given to crying I (may, cry). 11. Alice thought it (may, be) nice if you (can, join) us.

Exercise plete these sentences using could or might.

1. If it (not to rain), we (play) tennis. 2. If she (to ask) me politely, I (feel) like helping her. 3. If he (not to be) so bad-tempered, I (go) out with him. 4. If I (to have) more money, I (get) a small flat. 5. If you (to speak) more slowly, I (understand) you. 6. If you (to cook) it in butter, it (could) taste better. 7. If she (not to provide) them with the information, they (to kill) her. 8. It (to be) fatal if she (to learn) the truth. 9. He (to steal) the papers, if he (to have) any chance. 10. She (to fall), if Bob (not to prevent) her from it.

Exercise 145. Think of possible justifications for these unusual or immoral actions.

Why might you...

-  jump out of the window?

-  steal money?

-  deliberately break a glass?

-  pretend to be someone else?

-  take off all your clothes in a public place?

-  drive a car on the wrong side of the road?

-  jump off the top of a cliff?

-  set fire to your house?

-  cheat in an exam?

-  paint yourself green?

Exercise 146. Translate the following sentences.

1. Если бы вы смогли послать нам телеграмму, мы бы, возможно, могли вас встретить, но обещать не могу. 2. Если бы вы могли остаться в городе подольше, вы бы, наверное, смогли сходить в местный музей. 3. Может, он и мог бы вам помочь, если вы попросите, но я думаю вам лучше бы обратиться к его брату. 4. Если бы она могла всё предвидеть, она никогда бы не сделала этого. 5. Если бы ты обратил внимание на эту девушку раньше, чем твой друг, то сейчас могла бы быть твоя свадьба, а не его. 6. Мы могли бы гулять до утра, если бы не комары, свирепые как бульдоги. 7. Если бы ты сдал экзамены вовремя, мы бы могли поехать на море. 8. Если бы ты любил рок-музыку, я бы мог подарить тебе все альбомы группы «Ария». 9. Если бы я мог позволить себе купить новый компьютер, я бы, возможно, сумел спроектировать это здание гораздо быстрее и качественнее и мог бы выиграть первый приз. 10. Мы, возможно, пошли бы с вами, если бы вы пригласили нас заранее, а сейчас у нас другие планы.

REVISION: CONDITIONALS

Exercise 147. Explain the use of the verb forms in the following conditional sentences:

1. He walked around the city aimlessly for the rest of the morning, looking into shop windows and thinking of the things he would buy if he had money. 2. If I remind you in a month from now of things you are saying tonight you’ll laugh. 3. What would have happened if you hadn’t done so well yesterday? 4. If I were a playwright I’d write a nice, old-fashioned play in which the heroine is pure and beautiful and makes a man out of her husband. 5. “If I’d answered back like that at your age I’d have been well slapped,” said Mrs. Grey. 6. I said I thought it would be far more fun if your brother had come, too. 7. I remember that if I lit a cigarette in here you always opened the window. 8. If he knew he would have told me. I’m sure he knows nothing. 9. Ronny would bring lots of gifts for Martha and say to me: “I wouldn’t be doing this, if Martha did not treat me well.” 10. She’ll only be miserable if you insist. 11. Where would your father have got his tobacco if it hadn’t been for me? 12. It was so dark that he would have lost his way if she had not taken him by the hand. 13. “Do you think it’s important?” “Yes, I do. If I didn’t I wouldn’t be here.”

Exercise pply the necessary forms for the verbs given in brackets in the following conditional sentences:

1. If his mother (not to go) out, the boy (to turn) off the TV set and (to go) to bed. 2. I (to wait) if I (to be) you. 3. She (to fall) if he suddenly (not to put) out a hand to steady her. 4. If I (to be) a poet I (to write) a poem about nettles in a wine glass. 5. If it (to be) not for the journalists, everything (to be) perfectly easy. 6. If your father (to be) here, he (to give) you a piece of his mind. 7. I’m glad that he turned this offer down. There (to be) no turning back if he (to accept) it. 8. “She is only twenty.” “She (to know) better if she (to be) twenty-five?” 9. I do not know what (to happen) if this (to go) on much longer. 10. Don’t you see that if things like that (to happen) life (to be) quite different? 11. You really (to follow) me if I (to go) away? 12. I believe you (to make) her stay if it (to be) not so late. 13. It (to be) better if you (to take) things coolly.

Exercise 149. Explain the use of the verb forms in the following conditional sentences referring to the future and translate them into Russian:

1. Would you do it differently if you had to do it over again? 2. However, if it should be proved on him, he will have to leave my house. 3. It would be much more convenient if he were to move to a hotel. 4. I think it would be a good thing if you would come and stay at my house for a little while. 5. They are going to send me some records in case I should forget my lessons. 6. If I were to tell you of the things the girl does, you would open your eyes. 7. I should certainly try to deserve your confidence if you would give me another chance. 8. “I don’t care if the whole school knows.” “If that should happen, we shall have to send you home.” 9. The situation was embarrassing. If I went in at once it would be obvious that I had overheard the words that had just been spoken.

Exercise pply the necessary forms for the verbs given in brackets in the following conditional sentences referring to the future:

1. I (to be) grateful if you (to keep) the news to yourself. 2. I (to be) in the drawing-room in case there (to be) a telephone call for me. 3. Many people ask themselves: “What I (to do) differently if I (to have) another chance?” 4. He wondered how he (to feel) if his former wife (to come) into the room in which he happened to be. 5. I know he is itching to tell me what happened, but I (to be) darned if I (to ask) him. 6. Philip says they (to miss) me if I (to leave) before their wedding. 7. Look here, it (to be) a bore for you if we (to have) tea somewhere? 8. In case any crisis (to arise), let me know. 9. The situation has been bad lately, but everything (to calm) down if you only (to stop) making a fuss. 10. If this (to be) our last meeting for some time, I (not to like) you to remember this talk. 11. It (to be) awkward if she (to refuse) to cooperate. 12. What his mother and father (to think) if they (to hear) of what he has done? 13. If the situation (not to change) by Saturday I (to be) in trouble. 14. I (not to be) surprised if he (to offer) an important post under the next government.

Exercise 151. Make up complex sentences with subordinate clauses of condition, using the forms given in the examples. Make use of various conjunctions (‘if’, ‘in case’, ‘unless’, ‘suppose’, ‘supposing’, ‘on condition’) or of inverted word order.

Example 1: If I am free tomorrow, I shall join you.

Example 2: If I were free, I should (would) do the work at once.

Example 3: If he worked more regularly, he would know the language better.

Example 4: If you had worked during the term, you would have passed the exam.

Example 5: If you had read the book, you would remember the facts.

Example 6: If it should rain, don’t go out.

Example 7: If anyone should call, he would not (will not) find me in.

Example 8: If he would come, we should be glad to see him.

Example 9: If I were to offer my help, they would accept it.

Example 10: If he could attend the concert, he would like it.

Example 11: If she could have helped you, she would have done it.

Example 12: They could (might) join you, if you invited (should invite, were to invite, could invite) them.

Exercise pply the necessary forms for the verbs in brackets in the following sentences of unreal condition, taking special care of modal verbs: