Contrasts and Comparisons I
I can't see you before eight in the evening.
Eight ______
Eight in the evening is the earliest (that) I can see you.
He didn't tell me why he'd been late, but I knew.
Although ________
1. Although he didn't tell me/say, I knew why he's been late.
2. Although he didn't tell me/say why he'd been late, I knew.
Would you really want to live in China if you got the chance?
Supposing _________
Supposing you had the chance, would you really want to live in China?
Can I ask you a personal question?
Would you _____
1. Would you mind me asking you a personal question?
2. Would you mind if I asked you a personal question?
3. Would you mind if I should ask you a personal question
He promised to write to me soon but it's possible he's lost my address.
He promised to write to me soon but he might ________
He promised to write to me soon but he might have lost my address.
I don't cook as well as my mother.
My mother ______
1. My mother cooks better than me
2. My mother is a better cook than me.
3. My mother is better at cooking than me
Although he talks a lot about going on a diet, he continues to eat a lot of sweets.
However often _______
However often he talks/may talk about going on a diet, he continues to eat a lot of sweets.
They criticised me because I made a simple mistake.
If I hadn't _________
If I hadn't made a simple mistake, they wouldn't have criticised me.
How about going for a walk?
Why _______
Why don't we go for a walk?
It's possible that she was lost.
She may well ________
She may well have been lost.
The yellow apples are less expensive than the red ones.
The yellow apples _____
1. The yellow apples aren't so/as expensive as the red ones.
2. The yellow apples are cheaper than the red ones.
In spite of all my money, I still feel very poor.
For all __________
For all my money, I still feel very poor.
If you hadn't helped us, we'd be ruined now.
Had it not _______
Had it not been for your help, we would be ruined now.
I'd advise you to study more if you want to pass your exam.
You'd ______
You'd better study more if you want to pass your exam.
It's possible that your telephone was out of order yesterday.
Your telephone __________
Your telephone may/might/could have been lost.
Nowadays I don't have as much free time as I used to.
I used to have _____
I used to have more free time ([before] than nowadays)
Although it may cost a lot, I want you to buy it.
Even _______
1. Even if it costs a lot, I want you to buy it.
2. Even if it does cost a lot, I want you to buy it.
3. Even if it should cost a lot, I want you to buy it.
4. Even though it costs a lot, I want you to buy it.
The tiger was attacking the man, so he shot it.
The man wouldn't _______
1. The man wouldn't have shot the tiger if it hadn't been attacking him.
2. The man wouldn't have survived if he hadn't shot the tiger.
Too bad we spend so little time together.
I wish ________
1. I wish we would/could spend more time together.
2. I wish we didn't/wouldn't spend so little time together.
It's likely that she'll be late again.
She'll _________
She'll probably be late again.
If you work carefully, you won't make so many mistakes.
The _____
The more carefully you work, the fewer mistakes you will make.
Although I had a good salary, I was unhappy in my job.
In spite _____
1. In spite of my good salary, I was unhappy in my job.
2. In spite of (my) earning/having/getting a good salary, I was unhappy in my job.
3. In spite of the fact that I earned a good salary/made a lot of money I was unhappy in my job.
If several of our players weren't ill, we'd probably win the match.
Our team would __________
1. Our team would probably win the match, but several of our players are ill.
2. Our team would probably win the match were it not for several of our players being ill.
How much do you earn a month, if you don't mind me asking?
How much do you earn a month, if I ____
How much do you earn a month, if I may ask?
He'll probably marry Joan.
There is _________
There is a likelihood/probability/chance/possibility that he will marry Joan.