Were I to ...
Explora cómo “were + subject + to-infinitive” presenta posibilidades remotas en mensajes formales, desde ofertas profesionales hasta decisiones sobre políticas.
Preview
Questions with solutions-
1. Elige la respuesta correcta.
¿Cómo presenta el autor la aceptación del nombramiento?
Were I to accept the appointment, I would need to relocate.
- As a hypothetical future choice.
- As a decision already made.
- As an obligation that cannot be refused.
- As a past decision the writer regrets.
¿El autor realmente ha aceptado o está imaginando las consecuencias?
Show solution
- As a hypothetical future choice.
“Were I to accept” plantea una posibilidad sin afirmar que se tenga previsto aceptar o que sea probable hacerlo.
-
2. Completa el espacio en blanco.
Were the committee ___ the proposal, we would reopen negotiations.
- endorse
- to endorse
- endorsed
- endorsing
Este patrón condicional formal requiere un infinitivo después del sujeto.
Show solution
Were the committee to endorse the proposal, we would reopen negotiations.
El patrón es “were + subject + to-infinitive”. Colocar “were” antes del sujeto permite omitir “if”.
-
3. Elige la respuesta correcta.
¿Por qué se usa “were” con el sujeto singular “the applicant”?
Were the applicant to decline our offer, we would contact the next candidate.
- It shows that the applicant declined the offer earlier.
- It agrees with “we” in the result clause.
- It marks a hypothetical condition rather than ordinary past-tense agreement.
- It makes the opening clause a question about the applicant.
Considera la función de “were”, no solo si el sujeto es singular.
Show solution
- It marks a hypothetical condition rather than ordinary past-tense agreement.
En esta construcción hipotética formal, “were” se usa con todos los sujetos, incluidos “I”, “she” y “the applicant”.
-
4. Completa el espacio en blanco.
El mensaje contempla la posibilidad de no obtener permiso.
Were we ___ secure the necessary permits, the launch would have to be postponed.
- not having
- had not
- do not
- not to
La forma negativa debe seguir incluyendo el infinitivo con to.
Show solution
Were we not to secure the necessary permits, the launch would have to be postponed.
“Were we not to secure” significa “if we were not to secure”. En esta estructura formal, “not” se coloca naturalmente después del sujeto.
-
5. Ordena las palabras.
Un aviso formal sobre la posible cancelación de un contrato y el depósito de un cliente.
- Were
- to be canceled,
- your deposit.
- would refund
- we
- the contract
El contrato recibe la acción, por lo que la cláusula condicional necesita un infinitivo pasivo.
Show solution
Were the contract to be canceled, we would refund your deposit.
“To be canceled” se centra en lo que le sucede al contrato sin especificar quién lo cancela.
-
6. Elige la respuesta correcta.
¿Qué promete el remitente si se presenta un cronograma revisado?
Were you to submit a revised schedule, we could reconsider the deadline.
- An automatic extension of the deadline.
- No definite action; reconsidering the deadline would become an option.
- Acceptance of the revised schedule without further review.
- That the deadline would remain unchanged.
Observa que la cláusula de resultado usa “could”, no “would”.
Show solution
- No definite action; reconsidering the deadline would become an option.
“Could reconsider” describe una posible respuesta, no un compromiso. “Would reconsider” indicaría que la reconsideración se produce si se cumple esa condición.
-
7. Elige la respuesta correcta.
¿En qué se diferencia el inicio, en cuanto al estilo, de “If the proposed terms turn out to be unacceptable”?
Were the proposed terms to prove unacceptable, we would welcome a revised offer.
- It uses a more formal, distanced style.
- It uses a more casual, conversational style.
- It sounds like an urgent spoken command.
- It reads as an emotional complaint about past events.
Considera qué versión suena más natural en la correspondencia profesional cuidadosamente redactada.
Show solution
- It uses a more formal, distanced style.
La inversión en las oraciones condicionales suele ser adecuada para las negociaciones formales y la correspondencia oficial. La versión que comienza con “if” es menos marcada en la comunicación cotidiana.
-
8. Elige la respuesta correcta.
¿Qué limitación es importante al interpretar este enunciado de la política?
Were the budget to be reduced, we would review staffing levels.
- It makes a staffing review optional after a budget reduction.
- It rules out staffing reviews while the budget remains unchanged.
- It does not say that a budget reduction is the only reason for reviewing staffing.
- It says that reviewing staffing must lead to a budget reduction.
Mencionar un factor desencadenante no excluye necesariamente otros factores desencadenantes.
Show solution
- It does not say that a budget reduction is the only reason for reviewing staffing.
El enunciado presenta una condición que daría lugar a una revisión. No dice “only if”, por lo que siguen siendo posibles otros motivos para una revisión.
-
9. Elige la respuesta correcta.
¿En qué momento de la línea de tiempo hipotética sitúa “would already have completed” la auditoría?
The audit is scheduled to finish this Friday. Were the board to approve the merger next Tuesday, we would already have completed the audit.
- Only after the board's possible approval next Tuesday.
- At exactly the same moment as the board's possible approval.
- Before this message was written.
- Before the board's possible approval next Tuesday.
Usa las fechas indicadas en lugar de guiarte por la forma verbal que parece expresar pasado.
Show solution
- Before the board's possible approval next Tuesday.
“Have completed” indica la finalización antes de un punto de referencia imaginado. Aquí, ese punto de referencia es una posible aprobación futura, no un evento pasado.
-
10. Elige la respuesta correcta.
El cliente aprueba el diseño, pero solicita un cambio. ¿Qué sucede a continuación según las condiciones de este mensaje?
Were the client to approve the design without requesting changes, we could begin production immediately. Were any revisions to be requested, however, we would need a new estimate before proceeding.
- Approval would permit immediate production despite the requested change.
- A new estimate would be needed before production could begin.
- Production would be canceled rather than delayed.
- A new estimate would be needed only if the client rejected the entire design.
¿La aprobación con un cambio cumple la primera condición o activa la segunda?
Show solution
- A new estimate would be needed before production could begin.
La producción inmediata depende de la aprobación sin cambios. Incluso una sola modificación solicitada activa el requisito independiente de una nueva estimación.