The Subjunctive

1. Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word in capital:

1. We won't talk to him if he treats us unkindly. (UNLESS) We won’t talk to him unless he treats us
kindly. 2. I didn’t get the visa so I couldn't leave the country. (WOULD) If I had got the visa I would
have left the country. 3. I regret not asking him to play my favorite song. (ONLY) If only I had asked
him to play my favourite song. 4. If you hurry up you won’t be late. (GOING) If you don’t hurry up
you are going to be late. 5. If they told you to take a jump off the window, would you do it? (WERE) If
you were told to take a jump off the window, would you do it? 6. If you run into him by any chance,
tell him to join us for lunch. (SHOULD) If you should run into him, tell him to join us for lunch. 7.
Without you I would have given in right away. (BEEN) If it hadn’t been for you I would have given in
right away. 8. If you insist on wearing those weird hats, of course people laugh at you! (WILL) If you
will wear those weird hats, of course people laugh at you! 9. Please take a seat and I'll inform Mr.
Jones that you have arrived. (WILL) If you will take a seat, I will inform Mr. Jones that you have
arrived. 10. Don't take his advice if you don't really trust him. (UNLESS) Don't take his advice unless
you really trust him. 11. If you hadn't insisted on my coming, I wouldn't have accepted the invitation.
(BUT) But for him insisting on my coming, I wouldn't have accepted the invitation. 12. I regret not
writing to him from the very beginning. (WISH) I wish I had written to him from the very beginning.

2. Rewrite each sentence beginning as shown, so that the meaning stays the same:

1. What would they say if they found out you've been cheating on them? Supposing they found out
you've been cheating on them, what would they say?

2. If you make the beds I'll sweep the floor. You make the beds and I sweep the floor.

3. If Sam hadn't promised to call me, I would have made other plans. But for Sam’s promise to call
me, I would have made other plans.

4. If by any chance you come across my letters, would you please refrain from reading them? If you
should come across my letters, would you please refrain from reading them?

5. She managed to get the job thanks to my insistence. If it hadn't been for my insistence, she
wouldn’t have managed to get the job.

6. If you hadn't refused to go to summer classes, you would have graduated now. If it hadn't been
for your refusal to go to summer classes, you would have graduated now.

7. If you didn't read the book, you can't really say you understood the film. Unless you read the
book, you can't really say you understood the film.
8. If you ask me, I'd think twice about getting married to such a wimp. If I were you, I'd think twice
about getting married to such a wimpy.

9. Provided this patient is controllable, you will soon improve his condition. As long as the patient is
controllable, you will soon improve his condition.

10. If you refuse to stop drinking a lot of beer, you can’t expect to lose weight. If you don’t stop
drinking a lot of beer, you won’t lose weight.

11. Without your advice, I wouldn’t have got the promotion. If you hadn’t advised me/hadn’t given
me some advice, I wouldn’t have got the promotion.

12. What would you do if you were attacked by thieves? Supposing you were attacked by thieves,
what would you do?

3. Complete each sentence with one word:

1. It's high time you decided what to do with your life. 2. I wish you would try following my advice
just for once! 3. I had better not waste time if I want to get there on time. 4. Be that as it may, I don't
think I'll change my opinion of him. 5. I wish father would come back for my graduation. 6. Just
imagine! Supposing they told you that you had been expelled! 7. You were looking as if you had been
running ten miles! 8. If only you could make a trip around the world! 9. I really wish we were
married. 10. I wish she didn't mind that I told her the truth. 11. I am going to start yelling at you
unless you leave me alone. 12. I think it's high time you started making amends. 13. If you were to
plan on moving, we could help you with the furniture. 14. I ….. you can copy that CD for me. 15. If
only you would just stop talking for a moment and try listening!

4. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form:

1. Would you rather come shopping with me or stay at home? 2. If only I didn’t confide in her; now
everybody knows my problems. 3. Amy says she would rather organize the event herself. 4. I’d
rather you got a full-time job than a part-time job. 5. Supposing I invited you to a party, would you
accept? 6. I wish I asked my parents for some advice before I made up my mind. 7. Suppose met a
film star, what would you say? 8. She didn’t understand the question, but she looked as though she
had understood(anteriority)/understood(simultaneity) it. 9. Liz studied Art at university, but she says
she would rather have studied History. 10. I wish Alan didn’t move away, as I miss him a lot. 11. It
seemed as if she forgot/had forgotten about the meeting. 12. If you hadn’t left early, you would
have met Tom.