Test what you have learned from the lessons on connectives and conditional sentences with this short quiz. Pick the choice in parentheses that best completes the sentence. Answers and explanations can be found at the end of the quiz.

 

1. Enrique didn’t speak English very (well, so / well. So) he contacted the English Island.

 

2. Julia didn’t have to water her garden because of (the rain / it had rained).

 

3. Atlanta is (such, so) a vibrant city that I decided to live downtown.

 

4. Ricardo went to his English class (despite the fact that / and) it was snowing in Atlanta.

 

5. If it (were not snowing / had snowed) in Atlanta right now, I would take the next flight.

 

6. If Shamin had taken classes at the English Island, she (should / would) have passed the TOEFL.

 

7. Water (boils / will boil) if the temperature reaches 212°F/100°C.

 

8. If I (was / were) you, I would schedule some classes with the English Island.

 

9. If I (had been eating / had eaten) breakfast this morning, I would not be hungry already.

 

10. I always have to leave early. Otherwise, I (am late / will be late) for my English class.

 

 

Answers and Explanations

1. Correct answer: well, so. Explanation: Therefore, consequently, and so are used in expressing cause and effect. They all have the same meaning: “as a result.” However, therefore and consequently begin new sentences. When using so to mean “as a result,” it is joined to the preceding clause by a comma.

 

2. Correct answer: the rain. Explanation: A connective expression with a preposition (“of”) is followed by a noun object, not a subject and a verb.

 

3. Correct answer: Explanation: You can express cause and effect by enclosing an adjective and a noun with such…that or an adjective or adverb with so…that. What you cannot do is enclose an only adjective or adverb with such…that.

 

4. Correct answer: despite the fact that. Explanation: This one is for Atlanta residents. Because the city shuts down whenever it snows, going to class would be an unexpected result. The conjunction “and” might be acceptable if the sentence referred to a region of the country that is equipped to handle a snowstorm. When talking about Atlanta, however, a phrase that expresses unexpected results (“despite the fact that”) is the best choice.

 

5. Correct answer: were not snowing. Explanation: Even in conditional sentences, progressive verb forms are used in progressive situations. “Snowing” is an ongoing situation (it is in progress), so we need a progressive form verb to match.

 

6. Correct answer: Explanation. When using a conditional sentence to express an idea that is untrue in the past or present, you can use either would or could. Would expresses a desired or predictable result. Could expresses a possible option. Should is used to offer a recommendation and can’t be used in a conditional sentence.
7. Correct answer: both choices are correct. Explanation: When expressing a situation that is always true with a conditional sentence, a simple present or a simple future verb is used in the “if” clause.

 

8. Correct answer: Explanation. Were is used for both singular and plural subjects within the “if” clause when expressing a condition that is untrue in either the present or the future. Although was is frequently used by native English speakers, it is nevertheless incorrect.

 

9. Correct answer: had eaten. Explanation: The verb tense rules for conditional sentences remain consistent, even when expressing a condition in which the time of the“if” clause and the “results” clause are different.

 

10. Correct answer: am late. Explanation: This one is a little tricky. “Always” implies a habitual The condition of being late has occurred in the past and will reliably occur in the future. In such situations, we use the simple present (“am late.”) If we removed “always,” then “will be late” would be correct.