Question

Which one of the following sentences is correct?

• A. If he got the job, he would have to travel 25 km to work, so he decides the job was not worth it
• B. If he get the job, he would have to travel 25 km to work, so he decided the job was not worth it
• C. If he got the job, he would have to travel 25 km to work, so he decided the job is not worth it
• D. If he got the job, he would have to travel 25 km to work, so he decided the job was not worth it

Hint:

Maintain tense consistency in conditional sentences. If the condition is in the past (e.g., If he got the job), keep the rest of the sentence in a logically matching tense.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The given options test the understanding of the correct use of tenses in conditional sentences. In English grammar, conditional sentences express a condition and its result, and they typically involve a conditional clause (often called the "if" clause) and a main clause.

1. Understanding Conditional Sentences:
   • Conditional sentences are used to express actions that depend on a particular condition.
   • They are generally divided into different types based on the likelihood of the condition and its result being fulfilled, such as zero, first, second, and third conditional sentences.
   • Second conditional sentences, like the one in this question, describe unreal or hypothetical situations in the present or future time.
2. Analyzing the Options:
   • Option 1: "If he got the job, he would have to travel 25 km to work, so he decides the job was not worth it." - This option incorrectly mixes past and present tenses. It starts with a hypothetical 'got' (past) and logically must follow with the outcome becoming a decision 'decided' (past) but concludes incorrectly in the present tense with 'decides'.
   • Option 2: "If he get the job, he would have to travel 25 km to work, so he decided the job was not worth it." - The mix of present with hypothetical condition incorrectly undermines the second conditional that requires 'got' instead of 'get.'
   • Option 3: "If he got the job, he would have to travel 25 km to work, so he decided the job is not worth it." - This option is incorrect because it presents past and present tenses in a sentence overviewing a hypothetical present/future scenario.
   • Option 4 (Correct): "If he got the job, he would have to travel 25 km to work, so he decided the job was not worth it." - This is correct because 'got' indicates a hypothetical situation, 'would have to' correctly reflects the outcome associated with the hypothetical, and 'decided' logically reflects a past decision about that hypothetical scenario.
3. Conclusion: Based on understanding the structure and appropriate tenses for second conditional sentences, the correct answer is:
   • If he got the job, he would have to travel 25 km to work, so he decided the job was not worth it.