Hypothetical Meaning

Grammar Reference

Hypothetical Meaning — Exercises

Choose the correct hypothetical form

1. I wish the government ______ more on renewable energy right now.
   (would spend / spends / spent) 
2. If only companies ______ reducing their carbon footprint ten years ago.
   (had started / started / would start) 
3. It's high time governments ______ action on inequality.
   (took / take / would take) 
4. She behaves as if she ______ aware of the scale of the data privacy problem.
   (were not / is not / was not being) 
5. I'd rather the company ______ its carbon footprint before expanding.
   (reduced / reduces / would reduce) 
6. Suppose we ______ invest in automation — what would happen to the workforce?
   (were to / will / would) 
7. I wish I ______ the impact of deforestation before this project began.
   (had understood / understood / would understand) 
8. It's about time the tech industry ______ responsibility for its digital footprint.
   (took / takes / would take) 
9. She acts as if the company ______ affected by automation at all.
   (had not been / was not / is not) 
10. I'd rather ______ on renewable energy than continue with fossil fuels.
    (rely / to rely / relying) 

Complete with the correct hypothetical form

1. I wish the government (act) on inequality decades ago — it is far worse now.
   
2. If only automation (not / displace) so many workers so quickly.
   
3. It's high time companies (start) taking data privacy seriously.
   
4. He speaks as if he (know) nothing about the impact of fossil fuels.
   
5. I'd rather the workforce (be) retrained before the redundancies began.
   
6. Suppose the company (reduce) its carbon footprint by 50% — how would investors react?
   

Key word transformation

1. I regret that the company didn't tackle inequality sooner. ONLYIf ______ inequality sooner.
   
2. It's overdue for governments to address the climate crisis. TIMEIt's high ______ the climate crisis.
   
3. She would prefer the company to switch to renewable energy. RATHERShe would ______ to renewable energy.
   
4. He doesn't understand the link between automation and inequality but speaks as if he does. ASHe speaks ______ about automation and inequality.
   

Error correction

1. I wish the company would have invested in cybersecurity sooner.
   
2. It's high time the government takes action on carbon emissions.
   
3. She acts as if she knows everything about automation, but she is not an expert.
   

Hypothetical Meaning — Answer Key

Choose the correct hypothetical form

1. would spend
2. had started
3. took
4. were not
5. reduced
6. were to
7. had understood
8. took
9. had not been
10. rely

Complete with the correct hypothetical form

1. had acted
2. hadn't displaced
3. started
4. knew
5. had been
6. were to reduce

Key word transformation

1. only the company had tackled
2. time governments addressed
3. rather the company switch
4. as if he knows

Error correction

1. I wish the company had invested
2. took
3. correct