Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
"If I _____ quickly, we won't be late for the party," said Peter.

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

Answer 1

The correct option is A drive

In the sentence 'won't' indicates that the party is in the future. Further, the sentence indicates a condition where the subject's action in the present will affect the future. In other words, if the subject does something now then they will not be late for the party. Therefore, the subject's action or the verb must be in present tense.

Option A is correct. 'drive' is in the present tense. It also justifies the condition in the sentence. Thus, we can say that if the subject drives quickly now, they will not be late for the party.

Option B is incorrect. 'will drive' is in the future tense. Since, the subject's action in the present is to be indicated, a verb in the future tense cannot be used.

Option C is incorrect. 'drove' is in past tense. If a verb in past tense is used then the tense of the sentence becomes inconsistent. As a result, it will contradict the fact that the party is in the future.

Option D is incorrect. 'would drive' is in past tense. If a verb in past tense is used then the tense of the sentence becomes inconsistent. As a result, it will contradict the fact that the party is in the future.