16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardConditional perfect after an inverted past-perfect condition

Standard English Conventions practice question

Had the levee been raised by even half a metre, the 1953 flood ____ far less damage.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. would have doneCorrect
  2. B. would do
  3. C. did
  4. D. will have done

Answer: A. would have done

An unreal past condition ("Had the levee been raised") takes "would have" in the result.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. would do
"would do" is for a present or future condition.
C. did
"did" states a fact, but the condition was not met.
D. will have done
Future perfect for a past event.

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