The past conditional, like the present, has two clauses: an IF (or UNLESS) clause referring to a condition, and a WOULD/COULD/MIGHT clause describing the result.
Past condition with results in the past: IF/UNLESS + past perfect verb + WOULD, etc. + HAVE + past participle
If Ann HAD BEEN more careful she WOULDN'T HAVE HAD the accident. (But she wasn't careful; she had the accident.) I COULD HAVE BEEN rich in ten years IF I HAD BOUGHT company stock. (But I didn't buy stock; I'm not rich.)
Past condition with results in the present (Mixed conditionals): IF/UNLESS + past perfect + WOULD, etc. + base form of verb
IF IT HAD RAINED last night the streets WOULD still BE wet. We MIGHT NOT BE here now unless you HAD CALLED. Tom COULD HAVE his degree by now IF HE HADN'T QUIT school.
We also use the past conditional in progressive and passive:
If I HAD BEEN PROMOTED I would be a vice president now. You would have found out the news if you HAD BEEN LISTENING. If we had made an offer sooner the house WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SOLD. What would you have done if Jim HADN'T BEEN WAITING for you?
Which are the past conditionals in this exercise - and which are not!
If the creators of Superman _____________ their rights , their families could be rich today.
wouldn't sell
didn't sell
hadn't sold
hadn't been sold
Mr Manning's plan __________ adopted if it had been less costly to implement.
might be
might have been
would be
had been
I think TMA will lose the contract if it ___________ to its clients demands by the end of the month.
didn't give in
hasn't given in
hadn't given in
wouldn't give in
We ___________ realise a huge profit if we invest in the right kind of stem cell research.
had
might
have
might have
If you ____________ a savings account you wouldn't have spent all your money.
opened
had opened
were opening
open
If the company __________Ralph's ideas into effect last year it wouldn't be in the mess it is in now.
put
had put
would put
would have put
The company _________ better luck at finding qualified employees if it had offered better salaries.
would have
has had
would have had
was having
Errors like this are hardly ever noticed unless the client __________ his bank statement very closely.
checked
checks
would check
will check
We ___________ realised a profit if we had invested our money wisely.
had
might
have
might have
If I __________ my checking account would the bank have notified me?
overdrew
would overdraw
had overdrawn
would have overdrawn
If Steve had had more help he ___________ up with a solution to the problem faster.
could come
came
could have come
had come
We might have adopted Mr Manning's plan if it ____________ less costly to implement.
had been
would be
has been
could have been
Mary ____________ noticed the error if she hadn't checked her bank statement.
hadn't
wouldn't
hasn't
wouldn't have
If you ____________ a savings account now you would probably save enough to go away for Christmas.
opened
had opened
were opening
open
If the company had put Ralph's ideas into effect it ____________ bankrupt as it did.
hadn't gone
wouldn't have gone
didn't go
wouldn't go
If the Superman rights _____________ , the creator's family would be rich today.
wouldn't sell
didn't sell
hadn't sold
hadn't been sold
Patty _________ better luck at balancing her checkbook if she had written the amounts down.
is having
might be having
had been having
was having
If I had bought that new computer I __________ my checking account!
overdrew
would overdraw
had overdrawn
would have overdrawn
Would TMA have lost the contract if it ___________ to its clients demands.
didn't give in
hasn't given in
hadn't given in
wouldn't give in
If Steve had more help he ___________ up with a solution to the problem faster.
