Subjunctive mood exercises

If he _______ in better shape, he would be a great addition to our rugby team.. The coach wishes the rugby team _______ more motivated, but he still helps the team as a whole, not just t

SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD EXERCISES Exercise 1: Choose the best answer:

1 If he _ in better shape, he would be a great

addition to our rugby team

A was B were C would be D would have

been

2 The coach wishes the rugby team _ more

motivated, but he still helps the team as a whole, not

just the ones who show promise

A was B were C would be D would have

been

3 The coach demanded that each player twice

each day

A practice B practiced C would practice

D had practiced

4 The executive board of the rugby team required that

each member _ twenty-five dollar dues

A pay B, paid C has paid D had paid

5 We wished that we New York's rugby team

A would have beaten B beat C had

6 I would grab the ball if I _ closer to it

A was B were C had been D has been

7 I would have grabbed the ball if I closer to it

A was B were C had been D has been

8 Team rules require that each player

responsible for memorizing one rule and then for

teaching that rule to all of the players

A was B were C be D would be

9 The coach realized that if a rugby player _ to

improve, he or she would need to spend several days

working on general physical conditioning

A was B were C be D would be

10 To avoid unnecessary injury, the coach insisted that the players' tackling drills on the proper way to fall down

A focus B focuses C focused D were focused

11 If I you, I would accept this job offer

A was B were C had been D has been

12 If I had time, I _ to the concert

A will go B would have time C went D would go

Exercise 2: Put each verb in brackets into suitable tense:

1 I would say it was time you ………… (start) working

seriously

2 I’d rather you ………… (not watch) television when

I’m reading

3 I wish I ………… (spend) more time swimming last

summer

4 Helen is so bossy She acts as if she ………… (own)

the place

5 I wish you ………… (not keep) coming late to class.

6 The government demanded that the ambassador

………… (be) recalled.

7 I’d rather you ………… (sit) next to Susan, please.

8 You are lucky going to Italy I wish I ………… (go) with

you

Exercise 3: Rewrite each sentence so that it contains the word in capitals, and so that the meaning stays the same:

1 Do you ever regret not going to university? WISH

………

………

2 I should really be leaving.

TIME

………

………

3 I’d rather have beer than wine PREFER

………

………

4 Jack doesn’t know all the answers, though he

pretends to ACT

………

………

5 Mary needn’t type this document

UNNECESSARY

………

………

6 I wish I hadn’t sold that old painting PITY

………

………

7 I would be better if you didn’t stay long RATHER

………

………

8 The manager insisted on our wearing dark suits

WEAR

………

………

9 Why do you have to complain all the time? WISH

………

………

10 I don’t want to go to the meeting RATHER

Exercise 4: Rewrite each sentence, beginning as

shown, so that the meaning stays the same.

1 It would be nice to be able to fly

I wish

………

………

2 I wish I hadn’t heard that!

I rather you

………

…………

3 Everyone wished they had listened more carefully to the lecture

Everyone regret

………

…

4 Unfortunately I’ve got to work late tonight

I wish

………

………

5 Is it better for me to leave?

Would you

………

…………

6 It’s a pity I can’t borrow your car

I wish you would

………

7 He really must finish this before 10 pm

It’s important that

………

8 It’s a pity you were driving so fast

I wish you

………

………

9 May the President live a long time!

Long

………

………

10 Jack prefers me not to say anything about the

missing money

Jack would rather

………

11 I really want him to take that exam

I urge he

………

………

12 It seems that he has seen a horrified ghost

He looks as though

………

13 Tom wants his daughter to go to England to improve

her English

Tom suggests

………

……

14 He must be taken to hospital immediately

It’s imperative he

………

15 She’d better live with her grandparents when her

parents died

It’s advisable she

………

…

Exercise 5: Correct the mistake or mistakes in

each sentence:

1 I wish I bought that old house last year

2 I’d rather you don’t eat all the bread

3 It’s time I go

4 I wish I own a motorbike

5 I wish we are not leaving in the morning

6 Sue would rather reading than watching television

7 I hope it would stop raining

8 I’d prefer you didn’t wait

9 I wish I didn’t listen to you before

10 It’s essential he comes to the meeting on time