Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If no substitution isrequired, select ‘No substitution’.
If it had not rained, they would not postpone the programmes.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is option 3 i.e. would not have postponed.
Error concept: Third conditional (unreal past condition).
What is wrong: The given sentence incorrectly uses would not postpone → it should be would not have postponed to match if it had not rained (past perfect).
Grammatical concept:
Third conditional structure: If + past perfect, would have + past participle.
Incorrectness of the concept in context: The result clause should express unreal past result.
How to correct + extra concept (if any): Use would not have postponed in place of would not postpone.
Correction: would not have postponed the programmes
Final sentence: If it had not rained, they would not have postponed the programmes.