Gap-fill
French B1 gap-fill: conditional or past conditional?
Fill 12 conditional forms as Ana compares a possible training course with a missed place last year. Includes tense contrasts, agreement and translation.
- B1
- 12 gaps
- Translation included
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In short
Use the present conditional for an imagined current or future result: je suivrais. Use the past conditional for an unrealised past result: j’aurais suivi. The time clues and the si clause tell you which situation Ana is considering.
| Meaning | French pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A possibility now | si + imparfait → present conditional | Si j’avais une place, je commencerais lundi. |
| A missed possibility | si + pluperfect → past conditional | Si j’avais eu une place, j’aurais commencé lundi dernier. |
| Past conditional with avoir | conditional auxiliary + participle | Elle aurait appris une nouvelle méthode. |
| Past conditional with être | agreement with the subject | Elle serait partie plus tôt. |
Ana is considering a new course this autumn. Last year she missed a different course because she applied too late. Fill 12 gaps with the indicated verb in the present or past conditional. Enter the whole verb phrase, including the auxiliary where needed.
Cette année ou l’année dernière ?
Ana travaille dans une petite association. Une formation en gestion de projet commence en octobre. Si elle obtenait une place cette année, elle (suivre) les cours le mardi. Elle (pouvoir) garder son emploi, car les séances ont lieu le soir. Son responsable (accepter) de modifier ses horaires. Ensemble, ils (organiser) les réunions autrement pendant trois mois.
Ana repense alors à la formation de l’année dernière. Elle avait envoyé sa demande après la date limite. Si elle avait préparé son dossier plus tôt, elle (obtenir) une place. Elle (apprendre) à établir un budget et elle (rencontrer) des responsables d’autres associations. Pour le dernier atelier, elle (aller; Ana is a woman) à Lyon avec le groupe.
Cette occasion est passée, mais la nouvelle formation reste possible. Ana dit à son responsable : « Si vous m’aidiez à choisir mon projet, je (être) plus à l’aise pendant l’entretien. Et si nous répartissions mes tâches, nous (avoir) moins de difficultés en octobre. » Il lui propose un rendez-vous jeudi pour préparer sa candidature.
Ana comprend enfin ce qui avait manqué l’année précédente. « Avec une semaine de plus, je (s’inscrire; Ana is a woman) à temps, explique-t-elle. Mon équipe et moi, nous (pouvoir) tester ces outils dès janvier. » Cette fois, elle note la date limite et commence son dossier le soir même.
Read it in English
Ana works for a small association. A project management course starts in October. If she got a place this year, she would attend classes on Tuesdays. She could keep her job because the sessions take place in the evening. Her manager would agree to change her hours. Together, they would organise meetings differently for three months.
Ana then thinks back to last year’s course. She had sent her application after the deadline. If she had prepared her application earlier, she would have obtained a place. She would have learnt to draw up a budget and would have met managers from other associations. For the final workshop, she would have gone to Lyon with the group.
That opportunity is past, but the new course is still possible. Ana tells her manager, “If you helped me choose my project, I would feel more comfortable during the interview. And if we divided up my tasks, we would have fewer difficulties in October.” He suggests a meeting on Thursday to prepare her application.
Ana finally understands what had been missing the previous year. “With one more week, I would have registered on time,” she explains. “My team and I could have tested these tools as early as January.” This time she notes the deadline and starts her application that very evening.
- Si elle aurait eu une place, elle aurait participé.Si elle avait eu une place, elle aurait participé.
A missed condition uses the pluperfect after si; the result uses the past conditional.
- Ana serait allé à Lyon.Ana serait allée à Lyon.
With être, the participle agrees with Ana, so the feminine ending is needed.