1. If she had a child, she would not have been unhappy; but the days were long, and it rained too much. (have) (not/be)
2. He was not exactly afraid, and if anybody had dared him, he would have slept in the boat just to show that he wasn't afraid. (dare) (sleep)
3. The cost was enormous, but if he had lived and finished it all, he would have spent four million more. (live/and/finish) (spend)
4. He had been less than a man if he had not responded to the appeal of her youth and beauty. (be) (not/respond)
5. If you had not done it, you would have found me out right then! (not/do) (find)
6. If the words had been a charge of shot fired into my back, I would not have spun round on them more suddenly. (be) (not/spin)
7. Some people give up when, if they hold on, they would have succeeded at last. (hold on) (succeed)
8. If he were prosperous and happy, it would not have mattered half so much. (be) (not/matter)
9. He would have hung onto it if he had wanted. (hang) (want)
10. No doubt, if you stayed, he would have spoken more freely later. (stay) (speak)
11. If I had been married to him, for all he was in woman's apparel, I would not have had him. (passive/marry) (not/have)
12. Nothing would have saved me if Santa had not returned to the attack. (save) (not/return)
13. And how would his father and his sister have felt if he had done so? (how/his father and his sister/feel/?) (do)
Answer (2)
The scenarios provided in each sentence involve conditional statements in English. These are known as 'conditional clauses' or 'if clauses,' which are used to discuss situations that depend on a condition being fulfilled.
If she had a child, she would not have been unhappy; but the days were long, and it rained too much.
Explanation : The condition (having a child) did not occur. Thus, she was unhappy. This is a third conditional sentence, indicating a past hypothetical situation that didn’t happen.
He was not exactly afraid, and if anybody had dared him, he would have slept in the boat just to show that he wasn't afraid.
Explanation : It's another third conditional, where nobody dared him, so the condition was not met, and he did not sleep in the boat.
The cost was enormous, but if he had lived and finished it all, he would have spent four million more.
Explanation : This reflects on an unreal past event; he did not live to finish it, so he didn’t spend more money.
He had been less than a man if he had not responded to the appeal of her youth and beauty.
Explanation : This implies that he did respond, reflecting a hypothetical where not responding would have been unexpected.
If you had not done it, you would have found me out right then!
Explanation : This indicates a scenario that didn’t happen because you did 'it.'
If the words had been a charge of shot fired into my back, I would not have spun round on them more suddenly.
Explanation : This is a metaphorical way to describe how surprising the words were, comparing it to being shot.
Some people give up when, if they hold on, they would have succeeded at last.
Explanation : This scenario describes people who could have succeeded had they persisted, using a second conditional to show missed future success.
If he were prosperous and happy, it would not have mattered half so much.
Explanation : This is a mixed conditional—a present situation with a past consequence.
He would have hung onto it if he had wanted.
Explanation : This implies he didn't want it enough to hang onto it.
No doubt, if you stayed, he would have spoken more freely later.
Explanation : Since you didn’t stay, he did not speak more freely.
If I had been married to him, for all he was in woman's apparel, I would not have had him.
Explanation : Describes a hypothetical situation where marriage didn’t occur.
Nothing would have saved me if Santa had not returned to the attack.
Explanation : Suggests that Santa's return was essential and a real event.
And how would his father and his sister have felt if he had done so?
Explanation : This rhetorical question asks about emotional impact that didn't happen as he didn't 'do so.'
Overall, these conditional sentences explore hypothetical scenarios, past events that didn't happen, and their imagined consequences. Understanding these can deepen comprehension and usage of complex English grammar.
The sentences are examples of different types of conditional clauses in English, including third conditionals and mixed conditionals. They reflect hypothetical past situations and their imagined outcomes. Understanding these structures can enhance one's grasp of English grammar and hypothetical reasoning.
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