Mixed and inverted conditionals - Past regrets

If Tamara and Joe had taken a map they ....................................... lost now.

• wouldn't be

• may not be

• won’t be

Answer explanation

The correct choice is "wouldn't be" because it indicates a hypothetical situation that didn't happen. "May not be" suggests uncertainty, but "wouldn't be" clearly states they are not lost if they had taken a map.

They wouldn’t be so exhausted if they ....................................... all day.

• hiking

• wouldn’t have been hiking

• hadn’t hiked

Answer explanation

The correct choices 'wouldn’t have been hiking' and 'hadn’t hiked' fit the conditional structure, indicating that their exhaustion is a result of their activities. The other option does not maintain the correct tense.

My holiday would have turned out better ....................................... researched the country’s cultural heritage first.

• had I

• if I had

• if I have

Answer explanation

The correct choices 'had I' and 'if I had' are both forms of the subjunctive mood, indicating a hypothetical situation. 'Had I' is a more formal inversion, while 'if I had' is a standard conditional form. 'If I have' is incorrect.

If Lisa Jones hadn’t uploaded such an amazing photo, she ....................................... be so famous now.

• wouldn’t

• wouldn’t have

• mightn’t

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'wouldn’t' because it indicates a hypothetical situation in the present. 'Mightn’t' suggests possibility but does not fit the context of certainty about her fame resulting from the photo.

....................................... take on more responsibility, I might be considered for promotion.

• Were I to

• If I were to

• Had I

Answer explanation

"Were I to" and "If I were to" are both correct as they express hypothetical situations. "Had I" implies a past condition that is not applicable here. Thus, the correct choices are "Were I to" and "If I were to".

....................................... for the negative effects of tourism, the island wouldn’t have such environmental problems.

• Were it not

• Were not it

• If it weren’t

Answer explanation

"Were it not" and "If it weren’t" are correct because they express a hypothetical situation. The phrase indicates that without the negative effects of tourism, the island would not face environmental issues.

Had I not run into Susanna the other day, I wouldn’t ....................................... about the camping trip.

• have known

• know

• be knowing

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'have known' because the sentence uses a third conditional structure, which expresses a hypothetical situation in the past. 'Know' is incorrect as it does not fit the conditional form.

Troy ....................................... if I finished guitar practice late.

• often picked me up

• would often pick me up

• had often picked me up

Answer explanation

The correct choices "often picked me up" and "would often pick me up" fit the context, indicating a habitual action. The other option, "had often picked me up," suggests a completed action, which doesn't match the sentence structure.

If Clara ....................................... (carry out) more research on the region, we would have a better understanding of the local culture.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'had carried out' because it uses the past perfect tense, indicating a hypothetical situation in the past that did not occur, aligning with the conditional structure of the sentence.

When are we going to arrive? If we hadn’t taken the scenic route, we ....................................... (drive) around at this late hour.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'would not' because it fits the conditional structure. The sentence implies that without the scenic route, the speaker would not be driving at this late hour.