XAT has more number of questions on error corrections than CAT. The questions are based on core grammar, syntax, tenses, modifiers, conditionals, punctuation etc. Learn quick tips and tricks from Prof. S.K. Agarwal, Verbal Ability expert how to crack the questions on conditional usage.
Key points to prepare
Correcting the Error in the usage of conditional clauses is definitely tricky. The reason is that we try to apply only the rules of tenses missing their special formation and thus get half baked knowledge on the concept.
Any of the following four types of conditionals may be there in error correction. Know the key points and specific formation to crack them. The question may be in the form of - fill in the blanks, rewriting (picking out the correct) sentence from the given options.
Type-1: Situations that are always true if something happens: This use is similar to, and can usually be replaced by, a time clause using 'when';
For example: When I am late, my father takes me to school; or If I am late, my father takes me to school; She doesn't worry if Jack stays out after school.
Formation:
Use of the present simple in if clause followed by a comma. E.g. If I am late, When I am late;
Use present simple in the result (main) clause. E.g. …….. My father takes me to school.
You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the clauses e.g. My father takes me to school if I am late/when I am late.
Type-2: Real Conditional: These situations take place if a certain condition is met. In this type of conditional we often use ‘unless’ which means 'if ... not'. In other words, '...unless he hurries up.' could also be written, '...if he doesn't hurry up.'
Formation:
Use of the present simple in the if clause followed by a comma, future simple i.e. will+verb (base form) in the result clause. (Sub+will/shall+I form of verb+object). You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the clauses.
Examples - If he finishes in an hour, we will go to the movies. OR We will go to the movies if he finishes in an hour.
If it rains, we will stay at home.
He will arrive late unless he hurries up.
Peter will buy a new car, if he gets his raise.
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Type-3: Called Unreal Conditional because it is used for unreal - or improbable - situations. This conditional provides an imaginary result for a given situation. It is the peculiar example of using past for imaginary future.
Formation:
Use of ‘Be’ form verb (is, am, are, was, were etc.) is always conjugated as ‘were’, even with singular forms. Such ‘Be’ form verbs can be placed in statements before the subject in place of ‘If’
We can write – If I were the Prime Minister of India…………. Or Were I the Prime Minister of India……….. Both the sentences will have same meaning.
Formation:
Use of the past simple in the if clause followed by a comma. Could/should/could/might+ verb (base form) is placed in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the clauses. Examples- If they had more money, they would buy a new house. OR They would buy a new house if they had more money.
Type-: Often referred to as the "past" conditional because it concerns only past situations with hypothetical results. Used to express a hypothetical result to a past given situation. It is known as Past Unreal conditional.
Formation:
Formed by the use of the past perfect in the if clause followed by a comma. Verbs- would have/should have/could have/might have + past participle in the result (Main) clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the clauses. Example - If Alice had won the competition, life would have changed OR Life would have changed if Alice had won the competition.
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Part-1: Model questions - elementary
1. If he studied more, he ______ ________ (would pass/will pass/would have passed) the exam.
2. I would lower taxes if I ________ (will become/was/were/had become) the President.
3. They ______ (will/would/shall) buy a new house if they had more money.
4. If he had known that, he ________ (would decide/will have decided/will decide/would have decided) differently.
5. Jane would have found a new job if she ______ (stays/will stay/would stay/had stayed) in Boston.
Answers-
1. If he studied more, he would pass the exam.
2. I would lower taxes if I were the President.
3. They would buy a new house if they had more money.
4. If he had known that, he would have decided differently.
5. Jane would have found a new job if she had stayed in Boston.
Part-2: Model questions-with higher level of difficulty
Directions – Question 1 to 10 -Below are given the sentences in which a part or the complete sentences have been underlined. Four options follow each question. The first of these repeats the original; the other three are different. If you think the original is the best, choose option A, else pick out the most appropriate option which, in your view expresses the best way of writing Standard English.
Q.1 If I have enough money I would backpack around Europe. But unfortunately I am broke.
A. If I have enough money I would backpack around Europe. But unfortunately I am broke.
B. If I have had enough money, I would backpack around Europe. But, unfortunately I am broke.
C. If I had enough money I would backpack around Europe. But, unfortunately I am broke.
D. If I had enough money, I would backpack around Europe. But, unfortunately, I am broke.
1. A 2.B 3.C 4.D
Q. 2 She would have been here earlier if she did not miss the train.
A. She would have been here earlier if she did not miss the train.
B. She would have been here earlier, if she would not miss the train.
C. She would have been here earlier if she had not missed the train.
D. She would have been here earlier, if she has not missed the train.
1. A 2.B 3.C 4.D
Q.3 Thank you for helping me study. If you hadn’t tutored me I would fail the test.
A. Thank you for helping me study. If you hadn’t tutored me I would fail the test.
B. Thank you for helping me study. If you hadn’t tutored me, I would have failed the test.
C. Thank you for helping me study. If you haven’t tutored me, I would fail the test.
D. Thank you for helping me study. If you didn’t tutored me, I would have failed the test.
1. A 2.B 3.C 4.D
Q.4- If I exercised more I will be much more fit and I may not have so many health problems.
A. If I exercised more I will be much more fit and I may not have so many health problems.
B. If I exercised more, I shall be much more fit and I shall not have so many health problems.
C. If I exercised more, I would be much more fit, and I might not have so many health problems.
D. If I exercised more, I would have been much more fit and I would not have so many health problems.
1. A 2.B 3.C 4.D
Q.5 It’s too bad Sundar Raman is not with us. If he was here he can translate the letter for us.
A. It’s too bad Sundar Raman is not with us. If he was here he can translate the letter for us.
B. It’s too bad Sundar Raman is not with us. If he were here, he could translate the letter for us.
C. It’s too bad Sundar Raman is not with us. If he was here, he will translate the letter for us.
D. It’s too bad Sundar Raman is not with us. If he has been here, he can translate the letter for us.
1. A 2.B 3.C 4.D
Q.6 Stop asking me what my wife bought you for your birthday. Even if I know what she bought you I would not tell you.
A. Stop asking me what my wife bought you for your birthday. Even if I know what she bought you I would not tell you.
B. Stop asking me what my wife bought you for your birthday. Even if I know what she bought you, I would not tell you.
C. Stop asking me what my wife bought you for your birthday. Even if I knew what she bought you, I would not tell you.
D. Stop asking me what my wife bought you for your birthday. Even if I had known what she bought you, I would not tell you.
1.A 2.B 3.C 4.D
Q.7 My business trip to Los Angeles lasted only two days. If the trip had been longer I could visit my friends in New Jersey.
A. My business trip to Los Angeles lasted only two days. If the trip had been longer I could visit my friends in New Jersey.
B. My business trip to Los Angeles lasted only two days. If the trip had been longer, I could visit my friends in New Jersey.
C. My business trip to Los Angeles lasted only two days. If the trip would have been longer, I could have visited my friends in New Jersey.
D. My business trip to Los Angeles lasted only two days. If the trip had been longer, I could have visited my friends in New Jersey.
1. A 2.B 3.C 4.D
Q.8 – I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were allergic to chocolate. Had I known I would make you a vanilla birthday cake.
A. I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were allergic to chocolate. Had I known I would make you a vanilla birthday cake.
B. I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were allergic to chocolate. Had I known, I would be making you a vanilla birthday cake.
C. I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were allergic to chocolate. Had I known, I would have made you a vanilla birthday cake.
D. I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were allergic to chocolate. Had I known, I would had made you a vanilla birthday cake.
1.A 2.B 3.C 4.D
Q.9 – If I could go anywhere in the world I will go to Egypt to see the pyramids.
A. If I could go anywhere in the world I will go to Egypt to see the pyramids.
B. If I could go anywhere in the world, I must go to Egypt to see the pyramids.
C. If I could go anywhere in the world, I would go to Egypt to see the pyramids.
D. If I could go anywhere in the world, I should have gone to Egypt to see the pyramids.
1. A 2.B 3.C 4.D
Q.10- If you tried to understand the concept in the class you will not only remember it but also can put to use while solving even the difficult exercises.
A. If you tried to understand the concept in the class you will not only remember it but also can put to use while solving even the difficult exercises.
B. If you tried to understand the concept in the class, you will not only remember it, but also can put to use while solving even the difficult exercises.
C. If you tried to understand the concept in the class, you would not only remember it but also can put it to use while solving even the difficult exercises.
D. If you tried to understand the concept in the class, you would not only remember it but also could put it to use while solving even the difficult exercises.
1.A 2.B 3.C 4.D
Answers with explanation: Aspirants are advised to refer to the concept again if their answers do not match or any confusion persists.
Ans. Q.1 – 4.D- unreal past conditional with little or negligible probability. Punctuation usage –comma- to be placed before and after the adverb ‘unfortunately’ as the same has been used in the middle of the sentence. Had it been used in the beginning of the sentence, comma would have been required only after the said adverb.
Ans. Q.2 – 3.C – Unreal past with improbable condition. The past of the past. No comma to be used since main clause comes before the conditional if clause or subordinate clause.
Ans. Q.3 – 2.B- Past in the past – unreal past with improbable and impossible condition. Use of punctuation mark – Comma required.
Ans.Q.4 – 3.C – Unreal past conditional with little or negligible probability. Use of simple past in conditional ‘if’ clause and base form of the verb with would/could/should/might. Punctuation mark comma is to be used after conditional subordinate clause and since both the clauses connected with coordinating conjunction ‘and’ are fairly long, comma before ‘and’ is used.
Ans. Q.5 – 2.B- Use of plural be form verb in simple past tense. Conditional unreal past does not use singular form of be form verb like was. Comma before main clause is to be placed and principal (main) clause should be placed with would/should/could/might+base form (1st form of the verb)
Ans. Q.6 – 3.C – Unreal past conditional with very less probability. Use of simple past in subordinate ‘if’ clause followed by comma and use of base verb form with would/should/could/might
Ans. Q.7 – 4.D-Conditional unreal past of the past. No probability- so use of past perfect in ‘if’ clause followed by comma and could have + participle form of the verb.
Ans. Q.8 – 3.C – Unreal conditional in past of the past. No probability – If I had known OR Had I known mean the same and can be written either way; the requirement is that it must be placed in past perfect followed by a comma, main clause is to be placed with would/should/could/might+have+III form of the verb.
Ans. Q.9 – 3.C –Unreal past conditional – with very less probability. Something which may or may not happen but can’t be ruled out. Use of simple past (could go) in conditional ‘if’ clause followed by comma and use of would/should/could/might+ 1st form of the verb in the principal clause.
Ans. Q.10 – 4.D – Conditional Real past with low probability although something better can happen with the turn of events like paying more attention in the class. So, use simple past in ‘if’ clause followed by comma and base form of the verb with would/should/could/might.
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