Question

Choose the word or phrase that best completes the sentence:
That’s very sad news. If _________ sooner, I would have tried to help.
a) I know
b) I’ll know
c) I knew
d) I’d known

Answer 1

Hint: A verb is a content word that denotes an action, occurrence, or state of existence. It is the word class that serves as the predicate of a sentence.

Complete answer:
In the given question, the sentence is classified as a type 3 conditional. Therefore, the verb should be in a perfect tense.
Let us thus analyze the options given to us in this question-
Option (a.), 'I know', refers to the verb in the simple present tense.
Therefore, option (a.) is incorrect as this tense is not used in type 3 conditional sentences.
Option (b.), ‘I’ll know', refers to the verb in the future tense.
Therefore, option (b.) is incorrect as this tense is not used in type 3 conditional sentences.
Option (c.), ‘I knew', refers to the verb in the simple past tense.
Therefore, option (c.) is incorrect as this tense is not used in type 3 conditional sentences.
Option (d.), ‘I’d known', refers to the verb in the past perfect tense.
Therefore, option (d.) is incorrect as this tense is not used in type 3 conditional sentences.

Note:
In this question, it would be helpful for the students to recall what a type 3 conditional sentence is. The type 3 conditional refers to an impossible condition in the past and its probable result in the past.