Advanced conditionals: were to, should, but for

Formal and inverted conditionals: were to, should + infinitive, had + subject, but for, were it not for, provided that, supposing

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1. 1
   Multiple choice

   you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

   ShouldWouldHadWere'Should you require...' is a formal inverted form of 'If you require...'.
2. 2
   Multiple choice

   for her quick thinking, the accident would have been much worse.

   ButUnlessIfOnly'But for + noun' means 'if it hadn't been for' or 'without'.
3. 3
   Multiple choice

   If the government to raise taxes again, there would be protests across the country.

   werewouldhadshould be'If + were to + infinitive' presents a future possibility as hypothetical or unlikely.
4. 4
   Multiple choice

   Which sentence is correct?

   Were I in your position, I would accept the offer.Was I in your position, I would accept the offer.If I would be in your position, I would accept the offer.Were I to be in your position, I will accept the offer.Inversion with 'were' replaces 'if': 'Were I in your position...'. 'Was' cannot be inverted this way.
5. 5
   Fill the gap

   it not been for the storm, the flight would have landed on time.

   Answer: Had'Had it not been for...' is the inverted, formal form of 'If it hadn't been for...' (third conditional).
6. 6
   Fill the gap

   Were the company go bankrupt, thousands of jobs would be lost.

   Answer: to'Were + subject + to + infinitive' is the inverted form of 'If the company were to go bankrupt'.
7. 7
   Fill the gap

   the new bridge, the village would be cut off completely every winter.

   Answer: But forAlso accepted: Without, Were it not for'But for / Without + noun' replaces a whole if-clause: 'If it weren't for the new bridge...'.
8. 8
   Fill the gap

   Supposing you (win) the lottery, would you give up work?

   Answer: wonAlso accepted: were to win'Supposing' works like 'if' and is followed by a past form for an imaginary situation.
9. 9
   Fill the gap

   You can borrow my car that you return it with a full tank.

   Answer: providedAlso accepted: providing'Provided / providing (that)' means 'only if' and introduces a strict condition.
10. 10
    True / false

    This sentence is correct: 'Should you see Anna, tell her I called.'

    Answer: TrueInverted 'should' can be followed by an imperative: it means 'If you happen to see Anna...'.
11. 11
    True / false

    'Were it not for' refers to the past, while 'Had it not been for' refers to the present.

    Answer: FalseIt is the other way round: 'Were it not for' is about the present, 'Had it not been for' is about the past.
12. 12
    Discussion question

    Imagine that one major invention (the internet, the car, the smartphone) had never existed. Describe how life would be different, using at least two of: were to, should, but for, had it not been for.

    Sample answer: Had it not been for the internet, I would never have met most of my closest friends. But for online maps, I would probably still be lost somewhere in Rome. Were it to disappear tomorrow, I suspect many of us would feel helpless for weeks, and should that ever happen, I would finally read all the books on my shelf.