Question

Improve the underlined part of the sentence, or choose no improvement if it is already correct.

Many such mishaps can be avoided if we (are) careful.

• A. Be
• B. Might be
• C. Were
• D. No improvement

Hint:

Check if this is a real, general condition, not a hypothetical one.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Identify the type of conditional sentence first. The main clause can be avoided is in the present tense, and the if-clause should also stay in the present tense to match. This is the standard real-condition pattern: if plus present simple, plus can or will plus base verb.

Rewriting with each option shows the problem. If we be careful is grammatically outdated and wrong in modern usage. If we might be careful reads awkwardly and adds confusion about possibility. If we were careful would only work if the main clause also used a hypothetical form like could be avoided, which is not the case here.

Since the original sentence already follows the correct tense pattern for a real, general condition, none of the suggested changes improve it.

The correct answer is option D, No improvement.