🤔 “She wouldn’t listen” vs. “She wouldn’t have listened” – what’s the difference? Let’s find out!
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Warm-up
Read the sentences below and match them with the correct pictures and rules.
- Even when his friends called him over, he would not stop playing with his toy car.
- He would have made new friends if he had joined the other kids.
a) hypothetical situation in the past
b) unwillingness in the past
picture A
picture B
Theory part 1
Exercise 1
Choose the correct option.
- He wouldn't share his toys with his siblings. a) unwillingness in the past b) hypothetical situation in the past
- If I had known about the meeting, I would have attended. a) unwillingness in the past b) hypothetical situation in the past
- She would have helped you if she had been there. a) unwillingness in the past b) hypothetical situation in the past
- When they were younger, they wouldn't go to bed on time. a) unwillingness in the past b) hypothetical situation in the past
- I would have finished the project but I didn’t have enough time. a) unwillingness in the past b) hypothetical situation in the past
- The dog wouldn't come inside when it was called. a) unwillingness in the past b) hypothetical situation in the past
Answer key
1a 2b 3b 4a 5b 6a
Exercise 2
Fill in the gaps with the correct phrase.
- She invited him to the party, but he ... (come).
- If I had known about the sale, I ... (buy) more clothes.
- They tried to fix the computer, but it ... (work).
- If we had left earlier, we ... (arrive) on time.
- If she had studied more, she ... (pass) the exam.
- He ... (apologize) even though he knew he was wrong.
- I asked him several times, but he ... (help) me.
- If they had been informed, they ... (attend) the meeting.
- The dog ... (stop) barking no matter what we did.
- If it had been sunny, we ... (go) to the beach.
Answer key
1 wouldn’t come
2 would have bought
3 wouldn't work
4 would have arrived
5 would have passed
6 wouldn't apologize
7 wouldn't help
8 would have attended
9 wouldn't stop
10 would have gone
Exercise 3
Correct the mistakes. All sentences are about the past.
- If I had known about the meeting, I wouldn't attended.
- She wouldn't have apologised even though she knew was wrong.
- They would have coming to the party, but they don't have the address.
- When he was younger, he would have never listen to his parents.
- If we had had more time, we would finished the project.
- He wouldn't took the medicine even though the doctor prescribed it.
- If she had studied harder, she would have pass the test.
- I tried to explain, but he would have listened.
Answer key
1 would have attended
2 wouldn’t apologise
3 would have come
4 would never listen
5 would have finished
6 wouldn’t take
7 would have passed
8 would not
Exercise 4
Tell me about….
- Tell me about a food you wouldn't eat as a kid.
- Tell me about a trip you would have taken last summer if you had had more vacation days.
- Tell me about a time when your pet/child wouldn't listen to you, even though you tried everything.
- Tell me about a toy your pet/child wouldn't play with, no matter how many times you suggested it.
- Tell me about a course you would have taken if you had had more free time last year.
- Tell me about a time your parents wouldn't listen to you because they thought they knew better.
- Tell me about a family member who would have visited you if they had been able to take time off work.
- Tell me about a time your parents wouldn't let you go out because they were worried about your safety.