Select the option that will improve the underlined part of the given sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select 'No improvement required'.
The soldiers would not have surrendered if they not ran out of ammunition.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 1 i.e. had not run out.
- The error lies in option 1 due to the wrong usage of tense.
- The given sentence is an example of third conditional sentence.
- Third conditional sentences are used to explain that present circumstances would be different if something different had happened in the past. We talk about a condition in the past that did not happen. That is why there is no possibility for this condition.
- Example: If she had studied, she would have passed the exam.
- These are all conditions that were likely, but regrettably did not happen.
- The following rules are being followed while writing a third conditional sentence:
- We use the past perfect i.e., had + past participle after If.
- Next, the modal auxiliary (would, could, should, etc.) + have + past participle in the second part of the sentence is used.
The correct sentence is:- The soldiers would not have surrendered if they had not run out of ammunition.
Hence, the correct answer is Option 1 i.e. had not run out.