Choose the correct tense of the verb in bracket from the options that follow:…
2022
Choose the correct tense of the verb in bracket from the options that follow:
If I were you, I (buy) a car.
- A.
will buy
- B.
bought
- C.
shall buy
- D.
should buy
Attempted by 17 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
The correct answer to complete the sentence "If I were you, I _____ (buy) a car" is should buy.
Grammatical Explanation
This sentence is a classic example of the Second Conditional. The Second Conditional is used to talk about hypothetical, unreal, or imaginary situations in the present or future.
Structure: "If" + [Subject] + [Past Subjunctive "were"], [Subject] + [Modal Verb (would/should/could)] + [Base Form Verb].
The "If" Clause: Using "If I were you" sets up a hypothetical state. Because you cannot literally be someone else, English uses the past subjunctive "were" to signal this impossibility.
The Main Clause: The main clause must match the hypothetical nature of the first part. Therefore, it requires a modal verb like would or should followed by the base form of the verb ("buy").