GATE EC 2015 Set 3 — Question 1

MCQ+1 / -0.33EasyEnglish Grammar (Tenses, Articles, Prepositions, Conjunctions)Verbal AptitudeGeneral Aptitude

General Aptitude → Verbal Aptitude → English Grammar (Tenses, Articles, Prepositions, Conjunctions)

Last updated 5 September 2026

Question

Choose the most appropriate word from the options given below to complete the following sentence. If the athlete had wanted to come first in the race, he________________several hours every day.

Correct answer (B) should have practised Solution The sentence follows the structure of the third conditional, which is used to describe hypothetical situations in the past. The structure is: If + past perfect, ... would/should/could + have + past participle . The 'if' clause uses 'had wanted' (past perfect). The result clause must use 'should have practised' (should have + past participle). Therefore, option (B) is the grammatically correct choice. Turn this into a strength. Explore AI-powered practice and doubt support with Success Tracker.

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Correct answer (B) should have practised Solution The sentence follows the structure of the third conditional, which is used to describe hypothetical situations in the past. The structure is: If + past perfect, ... would/should/could + have + past participle . The 'if' clause uses 'had wanted' (past perfect). The result clause must use 'should have practised' (should have + past participle). Therefore, option (B) is the grammatically correct choice.

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