Use of English – English Grammar Exercises for B2
As the Lead Event Organizer, you are reviewing the team’s drafted contingency plan. You spot several critical grammar mistakes regarding conditionals and past events that could cause major confusion. Choose the correct option (A, B, C, or D) to fix the grammar and ensure the backup protocols make logical sense.
1 Draft: If it rained tomorrow, we would have moved the stage indoors.
Correction: If it rains tomorrow, we ______ the stage indoors.
(A) would have moved
(B) will have to move
(C) would move
(D) are moving
2 Draft: If the power failed last night, we would use the backup generator immediately.
Correction: If the power had failed last night, we ______ the backup generator immediately.
(A) would use
(B) will use
(C) would have used
(D) had used
3 Draft: If we didn’t buy the liability insurance last month, we will be in big trouble right now.
Correction: If we hadn’t bought the liability insurance last month, we ______ in big trouble right now.
(A) will be
(B) would be
(C) would have been
(D) had been
4 Draft: We should book the extra chairs last week, but we completely forgot.
Correction: We ______ the extra chairs last week, but we completely forgot.
(A) should book
(B) must have booked
(C) should have booked
(D) had to book
5 Draft: We didn’t need to hire that extra security guard; the crowd was very small, so it was a waste of money.
Correction: We ______ that extra security guard; the crowd was very small and peaceful.
(A) needn’t have hired
(B) didn’t need hire
(C) mustn’t have hired
(D) couldn’t have hired
6 Draft: If the storm hit earlier, we had to cancel the entire festival.
Correction: ______ earlier, we would have had to cancel the entire festival.
(A) If the storm hit
(B) Had the storm hit
(C) Did the storm hit
(D) Have the storm hit
7 Draft: The sound system broke before the show. Someone must tamper with the cables overnight!
Correction: The sound system broke before the show. Someone ______ with the cables overnight!
(A) should have tampered
(B) must have tampered
(C) might tamper
(D) can have tampered
8 Draft: If I have more staff available right now, I will assign them to the VIP entrance.
Correction: If I ______ more staff available right now, I would assign them to the VIP entrance.
(A) have
(B) would have
(C) had
(D) had had
9 Draft: You stacked those heavy speakers incorrectly. They can fall on the crowd!
Correction: You stacked those heavy speakers incorrectly. They ______ on the crowd!
(A) could have fallen
(B) must have fallen
(C) should have fallen
(D) will have fallen
10 Draft: If you will need medical assistance during the concert, please use the emergency radio channel.
Correction: ______ medical assistance during the concert, please use the emergency radio channel.
(A) If you will need
(B) Would you need
(C) Should you need
(D) Had you needed
11 Draft: The caterers brought the wrong food. They must not receive the updated schedule I sent yesterday.
Correction: The caterers brought the wrong food. They ______ the updated schedule I sent yesterday.
(A) mustn’t have received
(B) can’t have received
(C) shouldn’t have received
(D) wouldn’t have received
12 Draft: If I wasn’t an experienced event manager, I wouldn’t know how to fix that PR crisis yesterday.
Correction: If I weren’t an experienced event manager, I ______ how to fix that PR crisis yesterday.
(A) won’t know
(B) wouldn’t know
(C) didn’t know
(D) wouldn’t have known
13 Draft: Without the quick thinking of our technical team last night, the stage lights would fail completely.
Correction: But for the quick thinking of our technical team last night, the stage lights ______ completely.
(A) would fail
(B) will fail
(C) would have failed
(D) had failed
14 Draft: Luckily, we double-checked the microphones. Otherwise, the audio would fail during the CEO’s speech.
Correction: Luckily, we double-checked the microphones. Otherwise, the audio ______ during the CEO’s keynote speech.
(A) would have failed
(B) would fail
(C) will fail
(D) had failed
15 Draft: We won’t get a refund from the venue unless we don’t submit the cancellation 48 hours prior to the event.
Correction: We won’t get a refund from the venue ______ the cancellation 48 hours prior to the event.
(A) if we don’t submit
(B) unless we submit
(C) provided we submit
(D) unless we don’t submit
16 Draft: We wouldn’t be able to secure the grand ballroom if we didn’t pay the deposit a year in advance.
Correction: We ______ able to secure the grand ballroom if we hadn’t paid the deposit a year in advance.
(A) wouldn’t be
(B) won’t be
(C) wouldn’t have been
(D) hadn’t been
17 Draft: I can’t find the main projector. Maybe someone should pack it in the wrong flight case yesterday.
Correction: I can’t find the main projector. Maybe someone ______ it in the wrong flight case yesterday.
(A) should have packed
(B) might have packed
(C) must have packed
(D) would have packed
18 Draft: We will proceed with the outdoor fireworks tonight as long as it won’t be too windy.
Correction: We will proceed with the outdoor fireworks tonight as long as it ______ too windy.
(A) won’t be
(B) wouldn’t be
(C) isn’t
(D) wasn’t
19 Draft: Only if the fire marshal approves the floor plan we will begin to set up the pyrotechnics.
Correction: Only if the fire marshal approves the floor plan ______ to set up the pyrotechnics.
(A) we will begin
(B) will we begin
(C) we begin
(D) do we began
20 Draft: We will decorate the VIP lounge with fresh flowers, but the delivery truck broke down on the way.
Correction: We ______ the VIP lounge with fresh flowers, but the delivery truck broke down on the way.
(A) were going to decorate
(B) would have decorate
(C) must have decorated
(D) had decorated
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) will have to move
Explanation: This is a Type 1 Conditional (Real future possibility). The condition is “If it rains tomorrow” (Present Simple), so the main clause must use a future form (“will have to move”). Using “would have moved” makes no logical sense for a future event.
2 (C) would have used
Explanation: This is a Type 3 Conditional (Unreal past situation). Both the condition (the power failing) and the result (using the generator) refer to a hypothetical situation last night. Therefore, it must be “If + Past Perfect, would have + V3”.
3 (B) would be
Explanation: This is a Mixed Conditional (Type 3 + Type 2). The condition happened in the past (“hadn’t bought… last month”), but the result is happening right now. The correct structure is “If + Past Perfect, would + base verb”.
4 (C) should have booked
Explanation: To criticize a past mistake or express regret about something that was not done, we use should have + V3.
5 (A) needn’t have hired
Explanation: Needn’t have + V3 is used when an action was done in the past, but we now realize it was unnecessary.
6 (B) Had the storm hit
Explanation: This is an Inverted Type 3 Conditional. Instead of saying “If the storm had hit”, formal English drops the “If” and inverts the auxiliary verb: “Had the storm hit”.
7 (B) must have tampered
Explanation: To make a highly confident logical deduction about a past event, use must have + V3. “Should have” is for regrets, not deductions.
8 (C) had
Explanation: This is a Type 2 Conditional (Unreal present situation). The manager does not have enough staff right now. The structure is “If + Past Simple, would + base verb”.
9 (A) could have fallen
Explanation: To express a dangerous possibility that existed in the past but did not actually happen (a narrow escape), we use could have + V3.
10 (C) Should you need
Explanation: This is an Inverted Type 1 Conditional. It replaces “If you need” to sound highly formal and polite. (Never use “If you will need” in an if-clause).
11 (B) can’t have received
Explanation: To make a negative logical deduction about the past (you are 100% sure something did NOT happen), use can’t have + V3. Never use “mustn’t have” for deductions in British English!
12 (D) wouldn’t have known
Explanation: This is a Mixed Conditional (Type 2 + Type 3). The condition is a permanent present state (“If I weren’t an experienced manager”), but the result refers to a past event (“yesterday”). Therefore, the result clause takes “would have + V3”.
13 (C) would have failed
Explanation: “But for” means “If it hadn’t been for”. Because it refers to an event “last night” (Type 3), the main clause must be “would have + V3”.
14 (A) would have failed
Explanation: “Otherwise” acts as an implied conditional. Since the context is entirely in the past (we double-checked), “Otherwise” means “If we hadn’t checked”. The result must therefore be past unreal: “would have + V3”.
15 (B) unless we submit
Explanation: “Unless” means “if not”. A classic FCE trap is adding a negative verb after “unless” (unless we don’t submit = if we don’t not submit), which creates a confusing double negative. It must be followed by an affirmative verb.
16 (C) wouldn’t have been
Explanation: This is a standard Type 3 Conditional. Since the deposit was paid “a year in advance”, the inability to secure the room is also a hypothetical past outcome.
17 (B) might have packed
Explanation: To express an uncertain possibility about a past event (maybe someone did it), use might have + V3 or may have + V3
18 (C) isn’t
Explanation: Time and conditional clauses starting with “if”, “when”, “as long as”, “provided that” do NOT take a future tense (“will/won’t”). They take the Present Simple to refer to the future.
19 (B) will we begin
Explanation: When a sentence begins with “Only if”, the subject and auxiliary verb in the main clause must be inverted. Therefore, “we will begin” becomes “will we begin”.
20 (A) were going to decorate
Explanation: To describe a past plan or intention that was unfulfilled, use was/were going to + base verb.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
In FCE/CAE writing and Use of English, mixing up your conditionals or past modals entirely changes the reality of your sentence.
1 The “Past Modals” Formula (Modal + have + V3):
Whenever you evaluate a past event, you MUST use the perfect infinitive (have + V3).
- Must have done: I am 100% sure it happened (Deduction).
- Can’t have done: I am 100% sure it didn’t happen (Negative Deduction).
- Should have done: It was a good idea, but we didn’t do it (Regret).
- Could have done: It was possible/dangerous, but it didn’t happen (Near Miss).
- Needn’t have done: We did it, but it was a waste of time/money (Unnecessary).
2 Master the Mixed Conditionals:
Real life doesn’t always fit perfectly into Type 2 or Type 3 Sometimes the past affects the present, or a present state affected the past.
- Past affects Present (Type 3 + Type 2): “If I hadn’t stayed up late yesterday (Past), I wouldn’t be tired now (Present).”
- Present affects Past (Type 2 + Type 3): “If I weren’t afraid of heights (Permanent Present), I would have gone skydiving last year (Past).”
3 The Golden Rule of Conditional Inversion:
To sound highly formal (perfect for emails, essays, and contingency plans), drop the “If” and invert:
- Type 1: If you need → Should you need
- Type 2: If I were → Were I
- Type 3: If it had happened → Had it happened