Question

Fill in the blank with a suitable option:
If I had a car, I ____________ to the theater.

• A. drive
• B. would drive
• C. would drove
• D. drives

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

would drive

The given sentence is a Type 2 conditional, because it presents a hypothetical condition (if-clause) and its probable result.

In such sentences, the if-clause is in simple past tense and the main clause present conditional ('would drive to the theater').

Option B: 'Would drive' expresses the present conditional. It completes the sentence in meaning as well as agrees with the Type 2 structure. Hence option B is correct.

Option A: 'Drive' is in the simple present tense. It isn't used in the second conditional.

Options C and D: Similarly, 'drives' refers to the simple present tense. 'Would drove' is grammatically incorrect (as 'drove' should be replaced with the verb 'drive' to form a past conditional). ('Would' is a conditional and does not refer to past tense, whereas 'drove does'. Hence 'drove' is unnecessary.)

Hence options A, C and D are incorrect.