Example sentences of "[was/were] [adj] if [art] " in BNC.
Next page| No | Sentence |
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| 1 | Lord and Lady Southdown were friendly if a little distant . |
| 2 | However , not only were these statutory bodies to work with the voluntary sector , but much of the day-to-day running of the new ‘ services ’ would continue to rely on volunteers from the youth groups , for their time and expertise were essential if the new schemes were to be viable . |
| 3 | New words and names were essential if the new knowledge was to be effectively communicated , and they would have to be clearly defined . |
| 4 | Statements of this kind were essential if the Schools Council was to receive the support from schools that was needed if the project was to flower . |
| 5 | The king did not lack military resources , but they were useless if the men who were placed in command of them defected to the enemy . |
| 6 | The Commission felt that both elements were necessary if a balanced and effective course in citizenship were to be provided . |
| 7 | The examination of the performance of standard in-rack systems led to the realisation that systems giving a much quicker and better-directed response to fire were necessary if the performance requirements of section 6.3 were to be met . |
| 8 | Witnesses were uncertain if the bus was in the middle or the inside lane but it was doing about 63 miles an hour when a Nissan car , driven by 74 year old Malcolm Austin , crashed into the front . |
| 9 | That was possible if the telephones were down . |
| 10 | After all it would have a great element of surprise in its favour and although there might be some shooting it was doubtful if the Germans would know what they were shooting at , especially if good diversions were laid on . |
| 11 | It was doubtful if the equipment had been used for years . |
| 12 | I got on to the roof : the upper levels of mortar had crumbled so much that it was doubtful if the stack would survive the next gale . |
| 13 | Many people present realised that retention of the airfield was paramount if the unwanted development project was to be effectively stopped . |
| 14 | They believed that the conversion of Japan into a nation of prosperous owner-farmers was crucial if a democratic , peace-loving state was to become a reality . |
| 15 | ‘ Do n't ask me , missis ; all I know , wherever she went on those nights , she 'd leave here at half-past six and it was lucky if the clock saw her coming in that door at half-past eleven at night . ’ |
| 16 | She tried to pull her scattered thoughts into some sort of order , but all she could do was wonder if the cold , level gaze he had given her betokened indifference or anger . |
| 17 | What he said was informative if a touch inconsequential ; you did n't remember too much of it but the effect was cumulative . |
| 18 | Mr Stuart Hyslop , head of DTC , was unworried if a little bemused . |
| 19 | It is not enough for the defendant to show that he was aware of the contents of what he was distributing or publishing , but did not himself think that it was insulting if the jury or magistrate should come to the conclusion that he suspected or had grounds to suspect otherwise . |
| 20 | Both Labour MPs protested strongly to Mr Stewart that immediate Government action was essential if a vital part of the remaining industrial base in Glasgow is to be saved . |
| 21 | A pool of people who could read and keep ledgers was essential if the world of commerce were to expand . |
| 22 | He knew that recording this observation in line , tone , texture and colour , using a variety of materials , was essential if the looking was to become keen enough to lead to deeper understanding . |
| 23 | A devolution bill in the parliamentary session 1976–7 failed because of backbench Labour objections : the government was unable to carry the guillotine motion to curb debate which was essential if the bill was to reach the Statute Book . |
| 24 | But since humans are communicators by nature , a special distance-making language was essential if the mandarins were to maintain their power over the peasants . |
| 25 | Crosland ( 1956 ) argued that economic growth was essential if the Fabian strategy of equality was to succeed . |
| 26 | Withdrawal from the Coalition Government was critical if the process was to go any further : how could Labour make genuinely independent peace overtures to the German socialists while retaining its direct involvement in the Lloyd George Government ? |
| 27 | There had n't been any time to find a new skivvy , and a skivvy was vital if the evening was to be a success . |
| 28 | The Major 's news was vital if the British and Dutch troops were to join the Prussians . |
| 29 | However , these theories were basically incompatible because the Newtonian theory was invariant if the whole system was given any uniform velocity , whereas the Maxwell theory defined a preferred velocity — the speed of light . |
| 30 | A considerable amount of objectivity was necessary if a really wealthy man decided to sweep a Girl off her feet . |