16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardInverted past-perfect condition

Standard English Conventions practice question

Had the letter ____ a day earlier, the sale would not have gone ahead.

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

  1. A. arrivedCorrect
  2. B. arrive
  3. C. had arrived
  4. D. arrives

Answer: A. arrived

"Had the letter arrived" is the inverted form of "If the letter had arrived".

Why the other answers are wrong

B. arrive
The past participle is needed after "Had".
C. had arrived
"Had … had arrived" doubles the auxiliary.
D. arrives
Present tense.

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