Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
He would buy a new car if he _____ more money.

• A. had
• B. would had
• C. would have
• D. have had

Answer 1

The correct option is A had

In the sentence, the word 'would' indicates that the tense of the sentence is simple past tense. Thus, the answer must be a verb in the simple past tense.

Option A is correct. 'had' is in the simple past tense. Thus, it has the required tense and is the correct answer.

Option B is incorrect. 'would had' is a grammatically incorrect phrase. According to rules of usage, if the auxiliary of the verb is in the past tense then the main verb cannot be in the past tense.

Option C is incorrect. 'would have' is a modal in the past tense but, it is used to express an event in the present tense. Since the event in the sentence has happened in the past, C cannot be the answer.

Option D is incorrect. 'have had' is in the present perfect tense and not in the simple past tense. Thus, using it will make the tense of the sentence inconsistent.