In the following sentence, a part of the sentence is bolded. Choose the correct alternative that best improves the bolded part.
Were the testimony verified by independent witnesses today, the jury would likely have returned a vastly different verdict in the criminal case.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
Correct Answer: Were the testimony to be
Explanation:
• The sentence uses an inverted conditional structure to express a hypothetical situation without using 'if'.
• When using an inverted second conditional with were in the passive voice, the correct grammatical pattern is: Were + subject + to be + past participle (V3).
• The original phrase "Were the testimony verified" is grammatically incomplete because it lacks the infinitive to be.
• Therefore, Were the testimony to be correctly completes the formal hypothetical construction (equivalent to "If the testimony were to be verified...").