Polite Refusals & Advice
You are offering advice to your friend about what you might do in their position. They are considering posting an embarrassing video of themselves on their TikTok.
If I [be] you, I [post] that video to your TikTok.
Were / would not post
You are imagining what you might do in the case that you became very wealthy. You want to buy an island. How would you express this hypothetical statement?
If I [have] a billion dollars in the lottery, I [buy] a private island in the Caribbean.
Had / would buy
You are reviewing your finances. You are wondering what might have happened if you invested in Bitcoin. Complete the retrospective statement.
If I [buy] Bitcoin in 2011, I [be] a millionaire by now.
Had bought / would have been
Your phone ran out of battery. Your friend called you to meet up to go to the mall. They feel angry that you did not pick up. How do you respond?
I [answer] your call if my phone [die]."
Would have answered / had not died
You are imagining a hypothetical scenario about humans living on a different planet and what they would need. How do you conjugate the verb?
If humans [live] on Mars, they [need] specialized oxygen domes to survive.
Lived / would need
You were invited to your friend’s New Years Eve party, but you already had plans with your cousins that evening. How do you politely refuse?
I [love] to join your 2026 New Year’s party if I [have] a prior commitment.
Would love / Did not have
You are discussing what you might do in the case that you were the winner of the lottery. How would you express this hypothetical statement?
I [fly] around the world in a private jet if I [win] the mega-lottery."
Would fly / won
You missed your flight. You decided to take a 10-minute nap before you left. Complete this statement, imagining an alternative course of action.
We [miss] the flight if we [leave] for the airport ten minutes earlier.
Would have caught / had left
You showed up late to a meeting. It was because there was a traffic jam. How do you give an excuse for being late? Hint - you are speaking in hindsight.
If the traffic not [be] so bad this morning, I [arrive] early for the meeting.
Had not been / would have arrived
You are considering how history would be different if the Titanic never hit an iceberg. How do you conjugate the verb?
If the Titanic [miss] the iceberg, it [reach] New York safely.
Had missed / would have reached
Your friend asks you for help with math homework, and you do not feel confident with your skills. You have a friend, Bridget, who is great at math, and you want to recommend her to your friend. How would you conjugate the verbs?
If you [ask] Bridget, she [be able] to help you better than I can.
Asked / Would be able
You are dreaming about places you could live if you starred in Hollywood movies. How would you express this hypothetical statement?
If she [be] a famous movie star, she [live] in a mansion in Beverly Hills."
Were / would live
You ordered a small pizza for dinner because you had a large lunch. Your friend is starving, and they got angry that there was not enough pizza for them. You want to tell them how you could have done that if they said that earlier.
If you [told] me you were hungry, I [order] a larger pizza.
Had told / would have ordered
You needed to finish writing an essay report, but the internet stopped working. How do you explain why you did not turn it in on time? Hint - you are speaking in hindsight.
I [finish] the report today if the Wi-Fi [work] properly.
Would have finished / had worked
You are imagining a hypothetical scenario about having superpowers. How would you conjugate the verb?
If you [have] a superpower, which one [you choose]?
Had / would you choose?
Someone needs help moving their fridge, but you just broke your arm. You want to help and need a polite way to decline your friend’s request.
I [help] you move your smart-fridge if my arm [hurt] so much. I broke it.
Would help / did not hurt
You are imagining about what life might be like if you were royalty. How would you express this hypothetical statement?
If we [live] in a palace, we [hire] a personal chef to cook every meal.
Lived / would hire
A football team lost the championship. Their coach has chosen the same strategy for every game. If he had changed his plan, they might have played better.
The team [win] the 2025 championship if the coach [use] a different strategy.
Would have won / had used
You decided to disconnect from your devices for the day. Your friend sent you a message asking you to buy them medicine because they were sick. You want to apologize for your delay in replying.
If I [see] your text message, I [reply] immediately.
Had seen / would have replied
You are considering what would have happened to dinosaurs if the asteroid never hit the planet. How do you conjugate the verb? Hint - you are talking in hindsight.
The dinosaurs [disappear] if the asteroid [hit] the Earth.
Would not have disappeared / had not hit
Your friend works until late at night, which is when your friends usually meet up to play basketball and football. Your friend feels sad that they are missing out. How would you advise them to take the earlier shift?
If you [work] the earlier shift, you [have] more time for your hobbies.
Worked / would have
You are envisioning what benefits you might receive if you were the president of Apple, Inc. How would you express this hypothetical statement?
If you [serve] as the CEO of Apple, you [have] the newest prototype iPhone.
Served / would have
You did poorly on a history exam. You only studied 15 minutes for it, when 2 hours would have been better. How would you phrase this?
If I [study] more for the exam, I [pass] it easily.
Had studied / would have passed
Your friend asks you for a loan of 400 euros. You only have 100 euros in your account. How do you explain to them that it is not possible?
I [lend] you the money if I [have] any in my bank account right now.
Would lend / Had
You are considering a hypothetical scenario about how a festival venue might change if it rains. How would you conjugate the verb?
If it [rain] today, the 2026 outdoor festival [move] inside.
Rained / would move