Grammar: Conditionals and Modal Verbs Flashcards

_____ you hurry, you will miss the bus.

Answer: Unless

'Unless' means 'if not,' so 'Unless you hurry' is equivalent to 'If you don't hurry,' introducing a negative condition.

_____ she studied harder, she would have passed the exam.

Answer: Had

'Had she studied harder' is the formal inverted form of 'If she had studied harder,' where the auxiliary 'had' is moved before the subject.

I wish I _____ play the piano as well as she does.

Answer: could

'Wish + could' expresses a desire for a present ability or situation that is not currently real.

She _____ won the race if she hadn't tripped at the finish line.

Answer: could have

'Could have + past participle' expresses an unrealized past possibility — something that was achievable but did not happen.

You may use the lab equipment _____ you follow all safety guidelines.

Answer: as long as

'As long as' introduces a conditional clause specifying a requirement that must be met for the main clause to be valid.

You _____ cooked so much food — there are only five of us.

Answer: needn't have

'Needn't have + past participle' indicates that an action was performed but was unnecessary.

If she had taken the job offer last year, she _____ much more money now.

Answer: would earn

A mixed conditional combines a third conditional if-clause (past) with a second conditional result (present), using 'would + bare infinitive' in the main clause.