GATE Mechanical 2019 Set 1 | GA | Question: 2

Question

____I permitted him to leave, I wouldn’t have had any problem with him being absent, ____ I?

• A. Had, wouldn’t
• B. Have, would
• C. Had, would
• D. Have, wouldn’t

Answer 1

To denote something that happened before in past tense, we have to use past perfect. So, we have to start with "Had".

Since wouldn't have is used in the sentence, and we are forming a question, it must be "would I"?

Correct Option: C.

Comments

why not B)?

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"____ I permitted him to leave, I wouldn’t have had any problem with him being absent, ____ I?"

1. By observation we can say that this sentence is a third conditional, expressing a hypothetical situation in the past and its hypothetical result.

1. Subordinate clause: ____ I permitted him to leave (hypothetical condition of past)
2. Main clause: I wouldn’t have had any problem with him being absent, ____ I? (hypothetical result of that condition of past)

2. The use of "wouldn't have had" in the main clause signifies a past unreal condition, requiring the "if + had" structure in the subordinate clause. However, the sentence inverts the subordinate clause for emphasis, creating a more formal tone.

3. To maintain the third conditional structure, we need "had" in the subordinate clause and "would" in the main clause.

4. So, correct option is "C. Had, would" and the complete sentece looks like:

"Had I permitted him to leave, I wouldn’t have had any problem with him being absent, would I?"