IC VERB TENSES Denis (9 continually | urge) me to lend him money for a business venture which he says (10 pay) his creditors back handsomely. I always (11 refuse) his request as politely as I can. He (12 not|show) any talent for business yet and until he (13 ---------) I (14 not|lend) him a penny. Marilyn (15 go) to the States on business in a few days. I am told that while she (16 be) away, Georgina's brother (17 keep) an eye on her firm for her. He (18 help) Marilyn with her business before, and she (19 trust) him implicitly. As long as she (20 not|be) away for too long, it should be a satisfactory arrangement. Robert (21 go) around recently saying that he (22 think) people who (23 go) to university (24 have) a great advantage over those who (25 ______not). (26 mean|this) that he (27 think) of going to university himself? If it (28 ---------) and if he actually (29 succeed) in getting there, he (30 do) what his father always (31 want) him to do, partly because he never (32 have) the chance of doing it himself. But I (33 doubt) if Robert (34 get) a university place all that easily if he (35 not|improve) his academic qualifications. He (36 leave) school over a year ago with poor grades, and unless he now (37 go) to a college and (38 work) hard to get better ones, few universities (39 accept) him. The trouble is that Robert is not the sort of person who (40 find) it easy to start studying again. Robert (41 prefer) sport to books, and since leaving school (42 continue) to play a lot of football. In fact the manager of the local team says he (43 consider) Robert for a place in it provided he (44 train) hard. And here (45 lie) another of Robert's problems: he is a sociable, easy-going sort of chap with a strong streak of laziness in his character, whether we (46 talk) of study or sport. Unless he (47 take) regular exercise - which he seldom (48 ______) - he (49 tend) to run to fat, even at his age. Until he (50 spend) less time eating and chatting idly with friends, he (51 not|become) the professional footballer he sometimes (52 dream) of being. Whichever he (53 choose), university or football, he (54 have) to discipline himself. However, a self-disciplined Robert is someone I (55 find) hard to imagine; I (56 feel) that even if it (57 cost) him a career he (58 go) on being the same Robert, which (59 mean) that by the time he (60 be) thirty he (61 be) really fat! My son (62 study) medicine for six years and (63 take) his final examinations in two months' time. Provided he (64 pass) them, he (65 specialise) in psychiatry, which (66 take) another two years' study at least. So he (67 not| be) ready to practise full time until he (68 be) nearly thirty. By then he (69 study) for a total of eight or nine years and (70 earn) practically nothing. Until now his wife (71 work) and (72 support) him, but she (73 expect) a baby in four months and so she (74 give up) her job soon What on earth they (75 live) on when she (76 stop) working I do not know But they (77 not|worry) about it. My daughter-in-law says that they (78 manage) somehow, while my son says simply that he (79 qualify) as a psychiatrist however long it (80 take). 24 VERB TENSES ID When people retire they quite rightly think that if they (81 work) hard for most of their lives they (82 earn) the right to a bit of comfort in their old age. Unfortunately, unless they (83 qualify) for pensions indexed to the cost ot living, they will be among those who (84 suffer) most if there (85 be) bad inflation in the future. 'So long as political leaders (86 keep) their heads a third world war (87 not|be) inevitable.' 'Whether they (88 keep) their heads or not, they (89 find) it almost impossible to prevent world war unless they (90 succeed) in abolishing the international arms trade.' 'My prediction is that providing a nuclear holocaust (91 not|occur) by the end of the century, mankind (92 pass) the danger point.' 'You're too complacent. Even if your prediction (93 prove) correct, there (94 always|be) a risk of man destroying himself.' 'I (95 come) with you only if you (96 drive) more slowly than you usually (97 ______).' 'I promise I (98 ______). Jump in! You can put the handbrake on immediately you (99 think) I (100 go) too fast.' ID Tense use for non-fact: supposition Introductory note: For supposition we use the same conditional links as in 1C and the sentences in which we use them are, like those in 1C, called conditional sentences. But tense use for supposition is different, as the following examples show: She always waited for me if I was late, fact : past time I'm sure she would always wait for me if I was late. supposition : future reference The obvious difference, then, between conditional sentences for fact and for supposition is the use in the latter of a conditional tense. Conditional tenses are formed by the substitution of would/should for will/shall in the future tenses (lBf, g, n, q), so that we get the following: CONDITIONAL CONDITIONAL PERFECT SIMPLE FORM would wait would have waited PROGRESSIVE FORM would be waiting would have been waiting 25 ID VERB TENSES In the rest of the sentence (that is to say, after a link such as if), we use one of the past tenses already dealt with in IB, with the important difference that for supposition a past tense does not relate directly to time; as we see from the example above (was), it may have a future reference. Sometimes the subjunctive were is used instead of was; and could or might may be used instead of a conditional tense. Possible combinations of these tenses and verbs are given below. Thus we see that conditional sentences consist of two parts. These are called clauses. The one beginning with the link is the conditional clause (since it expresses the condition), while the other is the main clause.* As the Examples here and in 1C show, either clause may come first in a sentence, but under tense use (see below) the main-clause tense is listed first. For clarity, the tenses are set out in full, without colloquial contraction (she'd be working etc.). To remind you of the conditional links mentioned in 1C, these are as follows: if, providing, provided (that), as/so long as, unless, supposing, even if, whether ... or, however (late etc.), no matter how, whoever etc., no matter who etc., any ... (that) Examples TIME REFERENCE TENSE USE 1 If Brenda was/were here she would be working in the office next door, a 2 If she left her job tomorrow she would get some pension, b 3 However long Brenda had stayed in her last job she would not have got a pension, c 4 But she would now be making a lot of money if she had not left, d 5 Brenda would have told me if she did not like her present job. d 6 She might now be a PRESENT FUTURE PAST mixed: present-past mixed: past-present mixed: CONDITIONAL + PAST Or SUBJUNCTIVE were CONDITIONAL PERFECT + PAST PERFECT CONDITIONAL + PAST PERFECT CONDITIONAL PERFECT + PAST might WITH INFINITIVE * In some grammar books, what is called a dependent or subordinate clause (for example, a conditional clause) is defined as part of a main clause. In this book main and dependent clauses are separate parts of a sentence. VERB TENSES ID director if she had stayed present-past + past perfect in her last job. e 7 Brenda could have made a past could with perfect success of any career (that) infinitive + past she had chosen. f,g perfect Explanation a Reference (1) is to a supposed or hypothetical present, that is to say, to one which does not exist. Note the tense use: Main clause: conditional (would be working) Conditional clause: past (was) The use of the progressive form (would be working) corresponds to its use for fact : Brenda is here; she is working in the office next door. After if, even if or unless the subjunctive were is a common alternative to was, and in the expression If I was/were you I would/should ... it is probably the more common of the two. However, were is seldom used after the other conditional links. b Reference (2) is to a future that is supposed or hypothetical for one of several reasons: i We do not think it probable or do not consider it seriously (Example 2). Compare the following, where the tense use (see 1C) shows that the same future possibility is either considered probable or, if improbable, is taken seriously as something that may happen: If she leaves her job tomorrow she will get some pension, ii We consider future possibilities seriously, but have not yet made up our minds what to do: Why not ask her now? She would still be at home if we phoned straight away. iii We want to be polite, and therefore approach the future cautiously, as supposition rather than possible fact: Would it be all right if I used your phone?* This is more polite than 'Will it be all right if I use your phone?' Tense use for the supposed future is the same as for the supposed present, except that as alternatives we can use was to/were to or should in the conditional clause after if, even if or unless. These alternative uses are generally more formal in style than the standard use: If she was to/were to leave her job tomorrow she would ... If she should leave her job tomorrow she would . .. Should can also be used in a conditional sentence like that in i above: If she should leave her job tomorrow she will. . . * Note a variation using the infinitive instead of a clause: 'Would it be possible (for me etc.) to use your phone?' (See lFd.) 27 ID VERB TENSES The probable effect of should here is to make the sentence less 'factual' and more 'suppositional' like Example 2. But whether it is used with will or would in the main clause, should after if has nothing to do with ought or the conditional tense; it can not be replaced by would (not 'If she would leave her job tomorrow she will/would .. .') and it can not be contracted to 'd (see HFe). c Reference (3) is to a supposed or hypothetical past which never existed. Note the tense use: Main clause: conditional perfect [would have got) Conditional clause: past perfect [had stayed] For the conditional link however long, see ICe. d Mixed reference (4,5) occurs in many conditional sentences. The main clause may have one reference, for example to the supposed present, and the conditional clause another reference, perhaps to the supposed past (4); or the references may be reversed (5). Tenses are used accordingly. Here are mixed future-past references: I would come with you tomorrow if I hadn't already promised to go out with Denis. I would have accepted your invitation if I wasn't going out with Denis tomorrow. Sometimes the conditional or past tense is 'shifted back' to the conditional perfect or past perfect to give a sentence with uniform tense use: I would have come with you tomorrow if I hadn't already promised ... I would have accepted your invitation if I hadn't been going out . . . tomorrow. e Might (6) is often used instead of would perhaps to express possibility (= She would perhaps now be a director if...). Might with a perfect infinitive (have been) is used instead of the conditional perfect tense: She might have been ( = would perhaps have been) a director by now if... f Could normally replaces would be able to, expressing ability: could make = would be able to make. With the perfect infinitive (7) it replaces the conditional perfect tense (would have been able to make). g We have already seen (lCf) that links like any time (that) can be the equivalent of conditional links like whenever. Similarly, any career (that) (7) can be the equivalent of whatever career and act as a conditional link in a supposition (= If she had chosen any career at all she could have made a success of it). Here are some more examples: I'd give a reward to anyone who (= to whoever) found my necklace. They'd have done anything (= whatever) she'd asked. 28 VERB TENSES ID These links are defining relatives (see 8Ab). Sometimes they are more precise in meaning than -ever forms: I'd punish any child of mine who (not whoever) did a thing like that. For my holiday I'd choose a nice seaside resort that (not wherever) promised some sun. non-defining relatives (8Aa) cannot act as conditional links. h Would against should. Like shall (IBr), conditional should may be used with the first persons (/, we), but as it can be confused with should in its. other uses (11C,E,F) it is generally better to use would for the conditional tense. In either case the distinction between conditional would and should often disappears, since contraction to 'd is normal in informal English (see IF, Examples). Exercise Use correct tenses for the verbs in brackets. These include tenses for fact (1B,C) as well as for supposition. Where there is no verb (______), give the correct auxiliary like could or did. 'As long as you (1 be) sure it (2 be) perfectly convenient, 1 (3 call) round tomorrow to see Miss Pearl as you (4 just|suggest).' T (5 not|suggest) it unless it (6 be) convenient. If you (7 want) to come on Friday it (8 be) a different matter; Brenda (9 be) too busy to see you.' Sheila teaches only the younger children at her school, but I think she (10 be) equally successful no matter who she (11 teach). I hear that however ill-behaved and uncooperative her classes (12 be) in the beginning, she always (13 win) them round in the end. 'If I (14 be) a successful doctor like you I (15 not|do) what you've done: I (16 not|go) and live in a town I (17 not|like), however much the people (18 need) me.' If I (19 not|be) a doctor I (20 agree) with you. I (21 live) near my family and friends, not where my fellow citizens (22 need) me most. But I am a doctor, and if I (23 do) that my skills would be wasted. And if I felt that was happening, how (24 justify|I) my choice of career?' I don't keep a dog or a cat because if I (25 ______) I (26 have to) find someone to look after it whenever I (27 go) away, and as I travel a lot on business that (28 be) a nuisance. However, when I (29 get) married, which I (30 expect) to do quite soon', I (31 keep) one. Even if I (32 have) all the money in the world I (33 not|be) happier than I am now. Providing one (34 have) reasonably good health, it (35 be) possible to he happy with very few material possessions. I hope I (36 continue) to think as I do however rich I (37 get). 29 ID VERB TENSES 'Do you think pigs (38 fly) if they (39 have) wings?' 'I don't think they (40 ---------); their weight (41 be) all in the wrong place.* But what a silly question! If pigs (42 have) wings they (43 not|be) pigs!' If we (44 live) on grass we (45 need) a special stomach like a cow's and teeth that (46 chew) vegetable matter more efficiently than ours. In addition we (47 need) to spend a great deal more time eating than we (48 ______) now. 'If we (49 fit) ourselves with an extra heart, (50 not|do|we) a lot more work?' 'I don't know. We (51 be|able) to do more physical work. But whether we (52 have) an extra heart or not, we (53 not|do) more mental work without an extra brain. The trouble is that some people (54 use) an extra brain to avoid doing extra work.' If it (55 not|be) for Napoleon Bonaparte, who (56 make) his cavalry ride on the right side of the road, the whole world (57 now | drive) on the left, as they (58 ---------) in Japan, India, Australia and Britain. The left, after all, (59 be) the right side to drive for right-handed people. The entire history of the world, says French writer Pascal, (60 be) different if Queen Cleopatra of Egypt (61 have) a shorter nose. Presumably he means that Julius Caesar and Mark Antony (62 not | fall) in love with her, and so (63 spend) their energies on different conquests. 'Unless you (64 leave) by the time I (65 count) ten,' he shouted, 'I (66 call) the police!' 'I (67 have) no intention of leaving, whatever you (68 count) and whoever you (69 call),' I replied. 'If you (70 know) anything about the law, which you clearly don't, you (71 realise) I have as much right here as you have. Why (72 not|mind|you) your own business? If you (73 ______), the world (74 be) a better place.' 'I (75 take) some of my pupils to Oxford tomorrow on a sightseeing tour.' 'Really? (76 be|it) possible for my daughter to join the party? You (77 show) her so much more than if she (78 go) with us, as we (79 not|know) Oxford very well.' 'Certainly. The coach (80 leave) at eight-thirty from outside the school. So if she (81 be) there in good time it (82 be) a pleasure to have her with us. There (83 be) several spare seats.' 'In that case, (84 mind|you) if we (85 come) too?' 'I'm very sorry, but this is strictly an outing for the children. If I (86 allow) you to come I (87 have to) allow the other parents to come as well.' 'My colleague Brenda Pearl nearly (88 get) married a few years ago. I doubt whether she (89 now | work) with me if she (90 _______). I certainly (91 almost lose) a wonderful assistant. * Note that a conditional sentence may consist only of one or more main clauses when the conditional clause is understood from the context, and is therefore not stated. Such sentences occur here and later in the Exercise. 30 VERB TENSES IE 'You (92 ______), but on the other hand you (93 ______|not). Even if she (94 get) married, I am sure she (95 now|work) somewhere.' 'Someone (96 damage) the photocopier.' T (97 not|be) a bit surprised if it (98 be) Denis. It (99 not|be) the first time he (100 do) it.' IE Tense use for non-fact: wish Introductory note: There are four different phrases* that may be used to introduce a fanciful or unfulfilled wish: If only Brenda was/were here! I wish (that) she was/were here. It is time she was here. I would rather she was/were here (than in London). The first three are in descending order of strength of feeling; if only, the strongest, is often used with an exclamation mark. Would rather expresses a wish in the form of a comparison or preference, although the phrase introduced by than may be left out if the comparison is understood from the context. You will see that they are used with a past tense (was) or (with the exception of it is time) the subjunctive were to express a wish that is unfulfilled in the present. They may also be used to express wishes for the future that may or may not be fulfilled: If only Brenda would come back! I wish (that) she would come back. It is time she came back. I would rather she came back (than stayed in London). Here the tense used with the first two and the last two phrases is different. The first two phrases, if only and wish, but not the last two (it is time and would rather), often introduce wishes unfulfilled in the past: If only Brenda hadn't gone to London! I wish (that) she hadn't gone to London. These various tense uses are fully set out and explained below. Examples TIME REFERENCE TENSE USE 1 I wish Brenda was/were present past or subjunctive here. If only she was/were were In this book the word phrase is used loosely to mean a group of related words. 31 IE VERB TENSES working in the office next door! a /forcZylcould ( = was/ were able to) telephone hěř~! b- I wish Brenda would get in touch! If only she would phone me! c I wish Brenda hadn't gone to London. If only she had stayed here! d I wish we could have postponed ( = had been able to postpone) her trip to London e (On phone): Brenda, it is time you were back. I would rather you were helping me here than working in London, f, g Yes, it is high time you came back. There is an important matter I would much rather you dealt with than anyone else. f,g PRESENT FUTURE PAST PAST PRESENT COuld WITH INFINITIVE CONDITIONAL PAST PERFECT Could WITH PERFECT INFINITIVE PAST FUTURE PAST Explanation a Where we would use a present tense for fact ('Brenda is here; she is working in the office next door'), we use (1) wish or if only with the past tense or subjunctive were for an unfulfilled wish. b Could (2) usually replaces was/were able to (see e below). c Where we might use the future tense for possible fact ('I expect Brenda will get in touch; she'll probably phone me'), we use (3) wish or if only with the conditional tense for a wish that we hope will be fulfilled. Compare the use of wish or want with the infinitive (wish being the more formal and the less common of the two): I want/wish Brenda to phone me. Here we have what is almost a command, which we expect to be fulfilled. d Where we would use the present perfect or past tense for fact ('Brenda hasn't gone to London; she stayed here'), we use (4) wish or if only with the past perfect tense. e After wish or if only, could have (5) usually replaces had been able to. 32 VERB TENSES IE Compare lDf, where we have seen that could and could have replace would be able to and would have been able to respectively. f It is time is followed only by the past tense to express a wish. This may be a wish unfulfilled in the present (6) or that may or may not be fulfilled in the future (7). Compare the use of it is time with the infinitive to express a fact that is in the nature of a command: It is time (for you) to come back. g Would rather (6,7) is essentially similar regarding tense use to it is time. However, although uncommon, its use with the past perfect tense to express a wish unfulfilled in the past can occur: I would rather Brenda had gone to London last week (than this week). For the use of would rather with the plain infinitive, see 9g. Exercise Choose a correct tense for the verbs in brackets. As well as tenses used to express wish, some of the tenses required are those used for fact (1B,C) or for supposition (ID). Where there is no verb (______), give the correct auxiliary, such as can or would. Sheila, whose mother is ill, wishes she (1 get) better so that they could go on holiday together next month. She says she (2 ______) rather go with her than with anyone else. 'If only,' some people say, 'the world (3 be) a kinder place than it is!' It's time such people (4 realise) that charity begins at home and (5 act) accordingly. 'If only,' thinks Georgina's husband, 'I (6 get) Georgina to sew or read a book! I wish she (7 learn) to enjoy domestic life a bit more and (8 not|want) to go out every evening.' I would always rather people (9 think) me a rogue than a fool. Rogues are quite popular at parties and other social gatherings, whereas if people (10 think) you are stupid they never (11 ask) you anywhere. I wish I (12 call) round to see you tomorrow, but I don't think I (13 ______). I (14 let) you know, though, if there is any change of plan. Don't you wish your late aunt (15 leave) you some money when she died?' 'Not really. If she (16 ______) I expect I (17 give) it away. 1(18 ______) rather any money of mine (19 be) earned than inherited.' 'I wish I (20 be) as artistic as you. Then* I (21 spend) all my time painting beautiful scenery.' If you think art is just painting beautiful scenery, it's time you (22 learn) something about it!' See footnote on p. 34. n IF VERB TENSES 'It's high time someone (23 tell) Denis how objectionable he is.' 'I wish you (24 not|criticise) Denis behind his back all the time. He's not so bad. I'd rather he (25 become) my son-in-law than Ken, for example.' 'What's wrong with Ken? If you (26 know) him as well as I do, you (27 realise) he's worth ten Denises.' 'Oh, I wish you (28 stop) weighing people up like lumps of meat!' Sir James thinks it's time his son Toby (29 get) a proper job and (30 begin) to think seriously about a career. Of course Sir James would rather Toby (31 work) in his own firm than anywhere else, but in any case he wishes he (32 adopt) a more positive attitude towards life. People often wish they (33 choose) a different career when they were young. 'If only,' they say, 'I (34 do) what I really wanted to do!' Or: 'I wish I (35 listen) to so-and-so's advice.' Well, the truth of the matter often is that if they (36 have) their lives over again they (37 choose) the same. 'I must say I wish I (38 be) born a bird and not a human. Then* I (39 not|have to) come in to work this morning. And I (40 have) more freedom to go where I pleased when I pleased. I (41 migrate) last autumn if I (42 want) to!' 'You do talk a lot of nonsense. It's time you (43 come) to terms with life as it is. If you (44 be) born a bird, you (45 be) dead at your age.' IF Fact and non-fact: summary of tense use Introductory note: The following Examples summarise in dialogue form tense use for supposition (ID) and wish (IE) as non-fact and compare it with tense use for fact (1B,C). The Examples show how use can vary between non-fact and fact, even within the same sentence (B3, A5, B5, A6). As this is a dialogue, colloquial abbreviations are used, had being distinguished as '(ha)d from would/should (= 'ď). The small letters (a, b etc.) refer to the Explanation below. Examples Al Yd like to learn to play the piano. I wish I knew a good teacher who lived near here and who'd give/could give me lessons. Bl Suppose I gave you lessons. What would )■ non-fact you say? A2 Oh, if only you would/could] I'd rather you taught me than any other teacher. B2 I'd teach you only if you practised. *The adverb then here replaces a missing conditional clause If. .. (see footnote on p. 30). 34 VfcKB TENSES IF B3 A4 B4 I'll never teach anyone who is not prepared to practise, no matter who she is. A3 I'd have asked you before if I'(ha)d thought you'd have the time. It sounds as if you're keen and as if you'd practise. I'd practise as if it was /were a matter of life and death. Good. What would you pay me? A5 I'd pay you what you wanted, even if it was/were more than you are getting at the music school, however much that is. B5 It's time we started the first lesson, then. I'd be grateful if you'd put what you've just said in writing! A6 I'd have liked to start/to have started today, but I can't. Also we'(ha)d better settle the price before we start, hadn't we? \iI started before we settled it, it wouldn't be businesslike. FACT b NON-FACT a FACT b, C NON-FACT a,C FACT NON-FACT FACT NON-FACT FACT NON-FACT a, f b a, d b, e Explanation a The dialogue consists largely of wishes and suppositions (non-fact), since the speakers are feeling their way towards an agreement. Therefore most verbs are in conditional and past tenses or the subjunctive (were). b Sometimes, however, the speakers deal in fact, and then tenses relate to time except: i after conditional links like anyone who, no matter who in B2 or time links like before in A6 (seelC); ii in the case of the idiom had better in A6 (see e below). c Note in particular how the tense varies in B3 and A4 after as if, which is not a true conditional link (it may be followed by a future tense), but a link for condition (if) + similarity (as): It sounds as if you're keen (= I believe you are). fact It sounds as if you'd practise (if I taught you, but I may not). non-fact I'd practise as if it was/were a matter of life and death (but it wouldn't actually be as serious as all that). non-fact Compare: It sounds as if you were keen (but I doubt if you are). non-fact It sounds as if you'll practise (when I teach you, which I've decided to do). fact 35 IF VERB TENSES The past perfect tense may also be used after as if: The town looks as if it had been struck by a tornado (but I know it hasn't/wasn't). non-fact Compare: The town looks as if it has béen/was struck by a tornado (= I believe it has/was). As though is an alternative to as if. d Would/should like + infinitive may express a wish that is entirely fanciful (see IE): I should like to be the most beautiful woman in the world (= I wish I were . ..)! Usually, however, it expresses a reasonable wish that we hope to realise (Al). If we decide we cannot or may not realise it (A6), we can use either would/should like + perfect infinitive (to have started) or would/should have liked + infinitive/perfect infinitive (the choice of infinitive is in this case not important). We then have what is in effect a conditional sentence with past reference (lDc): I should have liked (it if we had been able) to start today. This use of a conditional tense + infinitive as a replacement for a full conditional sentence is common with adjectives (nice, better): It would have been nice to start/to have started today (= if we had started today). It would be better to settle the price before we start (= if we settled the price before we start). e The idiom had better (A6) + plain infinitive (settle) expresses fact rather than non-fact, although the past tense is used with a future reference. In strength and meaning it comes between would be better to (see d above) and should/ought to (11 C, E). f Just as will is not normally used after conditional or time links (1C), so would is not generally used after if etc. An important exception is the common formula (B5) for polite requests: I (etc.) would/should be grateful if you (etc.) would/could ... Compare the use of will in lCn(i). Exercise Put the verbs in brackets into a correct tense and fill any blanks (______) with a suitable auxiliary verb like would/could in Example A2. 'If only we (1 have) a car! Life (2 be) much more pleasant. Today, for instance, I (3 like) to have driven into the country to see and hear the spring. Don't you think it's time you (4 buy) a car and I (5 learn) to drive it?' 'It (6 be) nice to have a car if it (7 not|be) so expensive. The trouble is that I (8 have to) give up a lot of things I now (9 enjoy).' 36 VERB TENSES IF Denis is only a junior employee in this firm, but he behaves as if he (10 run) it. It's time someone (11 put) him in his proper place. I (12 do) it myself, but the trouble is that he (13 not|pay) any attention to what I (14 say). If we stayed here until we (15 finish) all this work, we (16 be) here until midnight. Suppose we then (17 discover) that we (18 be) all alone in this huge building. (19 ______n't) you be frightened? I (20 leave) before it (21 get) dark. If only you (22 stop) worrying about what is going to happen! It's almost as if you (23 think) you (24 can) change things by worrying. But you (25 not|can). Suppose I (26 worry) like that when my husband (27 be) so ill last year. It (28 not|do) any good, (29 ______) it? Would you please pay a little more attention when I (30 speak)? You behave as if everything I say (31 be) rubbish, which I can assure you it (32 not|be). I would rather you (33 leave) the lecture room altogether than (34 have) you sitting there yawning your head off. It's about time Denis (35 learn) some table manners. I would never get up from the table before others (36 finish), would you? And would you stick your finger in the soup to see if it (37 be) warm enough? And supposing we all (38 help) ourselves to everything we (39 want) without offering it to others first. What (40 happen)? The table (41 become) a feeding trough. It looks as if we (42 have) a long, difficult committee meeting tomorrow. I am sorry your boss (43 come). It (44 be) easier if he (45 ______n't). Then we (46 finish) by six o'clock, but as it is we (47 be) there until nine. I (48 give) a prize to anyone who managed to stop your boss talking so much! I wish you (49 not|laugh) about the accident. Suppose you (50 hit) the other car. You (51 not|sit) here now. Even if you (52 not|be) killed, you (53 be) badly injured. '(54 ______) you rather I (55 take) my holiday in June next year instead of later? If I (56 ______) you (57 can) have your holiday in July or August, when your children (58 have) their school holidays.' 'I (59 be) most grateful if you (60 _____). It (61 be) very nice if the whole family (62 can) spend its holidays together for once. It (63 be) a long time since we (64 ______) so.' Listen, children! I (65 punish) whoever (66 be) late for class tomorrow, whatever excuse they (67 have). It's not as if I (68 not|warn) you many times before about unpunctuality, and so if anyone (69 be) late again they (70 know) what to expect. Good heavens! Is anything wrong? You look as though you (71 see) a ghost!' 'If I (72 ______) to tell you that I have, (73 believe|you) me?' 'No, I (74 ______n't). I (75 not|believe) in ghosts. If anyone told me he 37 (76 see) a ghost, I (77 tell) him he only (78 think) he (79 see) one and that he (80 ______) better pull himself together.' 'I wish you (81 warn) me about Helen before I (82 meet) her.' 'Even if I (83 ---------), I doubt whether you (84 take) any notice of what I (85 say). She always looks as if butter (86 not|melt) in her mouth.' 'Exactly! If only she (87 not|look) so innocent!' My friend Zena is a very hard-working model, but to hear her talk one (88 think) she (89 do) nothing but enjoy herself. I often think she (90 do) better to give herself a less pleasure-loving image. 2 Adverbials 2A Adverbs against adjectives Examples NOUN WITH ADJECTIVE VERB WITH ADJECTIVE 1 That cheese has a terrible smell. ------>• That cheese smells terrible. VERB WITH ADVERB 2 Take a cautious smell at it and ------* Smell it cautiously and see if you see if you agree. agree. 3 Those men are pretty hard ------>• Those men work pretty hard on workers on the whole. the whole. VERB WITH ADVERB PHRASE 4 One of them gave us a friendly ------► One of them waved at us in a wave. friendly way /manner. Explanation a General rule: An adjective is used with a verb to describe the state (nature, condition, appearance etc.) of someone or something (1).* Otherwise verbs are used with adverbs (2). Words that are difficult to deal with under this general rule are reserved for the explanations preceding Exercise 2 on p.41-42 (f-h). b Adjectives normally form their corresponding adverbs by the addition of -ly (2).t Exceptions are: i good------> well ii adjectives ending in -ic, which add -ally: basic------► basically iii adjectives ending in -ablej-ible, in which final -e becomes -y: comfortable ------► comfortably; possible------> possibly iv adjectives with adverbs of the same form: fast------> fast; hard------> hard (3). c Adjectives that themselves end in -ly do not form adverbs by the addition of a further -ly. Some of them, such as early, monthly, have adverbs of the Activity is sometimes needed to maintain a state; or a state may be in the process of change. Therefore adjectives sometimes occur with verbs that themselves refer to activity in progress (IBs): 'The children are being naughty/The sky is getting lighter.' T Adjectives ending in -y [i] have -í- in the adverb: clumsy---------► clumsily.