141 Conditional sentences: type 2

PEG 222
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form.
1 Of course I'm not going to give her a diamond ring. If I (give) her a diamond ring she
(sell) it.
2 Tom: I woke up to find the room full of smoke; but I knew exactly what to do.
Ann: If I (wake) up to find the room full of smoke I (have) no idea what to do.
3 Ann: I couldn't live without Tom. If he (go) off with another girl I (pine) away and die.
But I have complete confidence in Tom.
4 Husband: But I'm not going on a diet. Why should I go on a diet?
Wife: If you (go) on a diet you (lose) weight.
5 If someone (say), I'll give you £500 to go into court and swear that this statement is
true, what you (do)?
6 If we (work) all night we (finish) in time; but we have no intention of working all
night.
7 You must never blow out a gas light. Do you know what (happen) if you (blow) out
a gas light?
8 If I (see) a tiger walking across Hyde Park I (climb) a tree. ~
That (not be) any use. The tiger (climb) after you.
9 If I (come) across two men fighting with knives I (call) the police. ~
But this is a very peaceful area.
10 Ann: All your clothes are years out of date. Why don't you throw them away?
Mary: Don't be ridiculous! If I (throw) my clothes away I (have) to ask my husband for
£1,000 to buy new ones.
11 Ann: If you (ask) him for £1,000 what he (say)?
12 Mary: He (be) too horrified to speak at first. But when he'd recovered from the shock,
he probably (start) talking about a divorce.
13 If someone (ring) my doorbell at 3 a.m. I (be) very unwilling to open the door.
14 If I (see) a python in Piccadilly I (assume) it had escaped from a circus.
15 Tom: The plane was on fire so we baled out.
Ann: I don't think I (have) the nerve to do that even if the plane (be) on fire.
16 We train the children to file out of the classroom quietly, because if a whole class
(rush) at the door someone (get) hurt.
17 Why don't you buy a season ticket?-
Because I lose everything. If I (buy) a season ticket I (lose) it.
18 Why don't you bring your car to work? If I (have) a car I (bring) it to work.
19 Jack: They get £150 a week.
Tom: They can't get £150 a week. If they (do) they (not be) striking for £120.
20 Ann: George is fourteen.
Tom: He must be older than that. He's in a full-time job. If he (be) only fourteen he
still
(be) at school.
21 He is staying at the Savoy in London. ~
Is he very rich? ~
I suppose he is. If he (be) a poor man he (not stay) at the Savoy.
22 If I (have) heaps of money I (drink) champagne with every meal.
23 If you (drink) champagne with every meal you soon (get) tired of it.
24 Prime Minister on golf course: I'm not at all worried about the situation. If I (be)
worried I not (play) golf at this moment.
25 But I don't want to buy an elephant! ~
I know that. But where you (go) if you (do) want to buy one?
26 Why don't you get a cat? If you (keep) a cat the mice (not run) about everywhere.
27 What time of year do you think it is in this picture? Summer? ~
No, it must be winter. If it (be) summer the people (not sit) round that big fire.
28 Tom: Oh yes, I heard the phone ringing.
Peter: Well, if you (hear) the phone ringing why you (not answer) it?
(Be careful; this is not a true conditional sentence.)
29 Your notes are almost illegible. Why don't you type them? If you (type) them they
(be) a lot easier to read.
30 If only we (have) a light! It's depressing waiting in darkness!
31 A university degree is a useful thing. If I (have) a university degree I now (sit) in a
comfortable office instead of standing at a street corner selling newspapers.
32 I (be) very grateful if you kindly (sign) this document and let me have it back as soon
as possible.
33 If the earth suddenly (stop) spinning we all (fly) off it.
34 Why are you so late? ~
We got stuck in a snowdrift! Luckily a lorry-driver saw us and towed us out. But for him
we still (be) there!
35 We didn't exactly break down. We had a puncture. ~
But if it (be) only a puncture why you (not change) the wheel and come on?
(See 28 above.)
36 I have no particular desire to win the Football Pools. If I (win) an enormous sum
everybody (write) to me asking for money.
142 Conditional sentences: type 2
PEG 222
Rewrite these sentences, using an if construction.
He smokes too much; perhaps that's why he can't get rid of his cough.
If he didn 't smoke so much he might get rid of his cough or
If he smoked less he might (be able to) get rid of his cough.
1 She is very shy; that's why she doesn't enjoy parties.
2 He doesn't take any exercise; that's why he is so unhealthy.
3 I haven't the right change so we can't get tickets from the machine.
4 They speak French to her, not English, so her English doesn't improve.
5 He doesn't work overtime, so he doesn't earn as much as I do.
6 My number isn't in the directory so people don't ring me up.
7 The police are not armed so we don't have gun battles in the streets.
8 The shops don't deliver now, which makes life difficult.
9 He's very thin; perhaps that's why he feels the cold so much.
10 We haven't any matches so we can't light a fire.
11 It's a pity we haven't a steak to cook over our camp fire.
12 I'm fat; that's why I can't get through the bathroom window.
13 He doesn't help me, possibly because I never ask him for help.
14 I can't drive so we can't take the car.
15 We have no ladder so we can't get over the wall.
16 My friend advised me to sell it. (My friend said. If 1. . . you 1. . . )
17 I haven't much time so I read very little.
18 They don't clean the windows so the rooms look rather dark.
19 He never polishes his shoes, so he never looks smart.
20 He doesn't pay his staff properly; perhaps that's why they don't work well.
21 We haven't got central heating, so the house is rather cold.
22 I have no dog, so I don't like being alone in the house at night.
23 He spends hours watching television; that's why he never has time to do odd jobs in
the house.
24 I haven't got a vacuum cleaner; that's why I'm so slow.
25 I don't know his address, so I can't write to him.
26 He never shaves; that's the only reason he looks unattractive.
27 You work too fast; that's why you make so many mistakes.
28 I can't park near my office; that's why I don't come by car.
29 I live a long way from the centre; that's why I am always late for work.
30 I haven't a map so I can't direct you.
31 People drive very fast. That's why there are so many accidents.
32 English people speak very quickly. Perhaps that's why I can't understand them.
33 My house is guarded by two Alsatian dogs. That's the only reason it isn't broken into
every night.
34 The flats are not clearly numbered, so it is very difficult to find anyone.
35 You don't wipe your feet, so you make muddy marks all over the floor.
36 I live near my office, so I don't spend much time travelling to work.