Question

Put the verb into the correct form:
Ken got to the station in time to catch his train. If _______ (he/miss) it, _______ (he/be) late for his interview.

• A. he missed; he had been
  
• B. he had missed; he would have been
• C. he misses; he will be
  
• D. he will miss; he will be
  

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

he had missed; he would have been

The given sentence state a past action 'got to the station'. Hence the events that happened are all in past tense.

Also, the 'If' sentence is a condition, because 'if' itself refers to condition. The sentence is a type 3 conditional: It describes a time in the past, and a situation that is contrary to reality. The type 3 presents an unreal past situation (if he had missed it) with its probable past result (he would have been late). In this sentence, the if-clause is in past perfect tense, and the main clause is a past perfect conditional.

Option B: 'He had missed it' is in past perfect tense and 'he would have been' is a past perfect conditional. It agrees to the requirements of a type 3 conditional, and forms a complete meaning. Hence option B is correct.

Option A: 'He missed' is in simple past and 'he had been' is in past perfect tense. The latter does not state a probable result.

Option C: 'He misses' is in simple past and 'he will be' is in simple future. They indicate a condition that is yet to happen. But the events are in the past 'got to the station'.

Option D: 'He will miss' and 'he will be' are in the future tense. They do not agree with the tenses of a type 3 conditional.

Hence options A, C and D are incorrect.