If it did not rain in time, there _ a horrible famine.
Correct answer: C. would be
- A. would have been
- B. will be
- C. would be
- D. will have been
Explanation
The correct answer is 'would be' because the sentence describes a hypothetical situation that depends on a specific condition (rain). This is a classic example of a second conditional sentence, which is used for unreal situations in the present or future. The other options are incorrect because they either imply a certainty (as with 'will be'), refer to a past hypothetical (as with 'would have been'), or suggest a completed action before another future event (as with 'will have been').
This question appeared on the ETEA MDCAT 2012 paper, which you can sit online with every answer explained.
Report an error
The more specific you are, the faster it gets fixed. A source beats an opinion.
Prefer email? [email protected]
About Tenses
Tenses show when an action or state occurs and whether it is complete, continuing or repeated. The work covers present, past and future forms, including simple, continuous, perfect and perfect continuous constructions, as well as sequence of tenses and the difference between tense and aspect.
Practise Grammar
6,178 free Grammar MCQs from English, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Discussion
Stuck on an option, or know a faster way to get there? Ask or explain it here.
No comments yet. Be the first to explain this one.
Exams that ask English questions like this
English is on 133 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.
More Tenses questions
Waeem _ him MD for many years, but he is rather unhappy with his salary.
He has _ his pen and is buying another one.
Mother is _ the baby's dinner in the kitchen.
I was born in Peshawar but I _ most of my childhood in the Mardan
He was _ in bed all day yesterday.
Your friend proved more sympathetic than I expected he _ do.