Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.
______ they left early, they would have reached by now.

Correct option is B

The correct option to fill in the blank is (b) Had.

Explanation:

The sentence refers to a past unreal condition and its possible present result, which is expressed by the third conditional form.

Correct structure:

·       If + subject + had + past participle, subject + would have + past participle

·       Example: If they had left early, they would have reached by now.

In this question, the if-clause is written in inverted form (without “if”).

So the correct sentence becomes: Had they left early, they would have reached by now.

Grammatical Rule in English:

This is a Third Conditional Sentence used to express imaginary/unreal past situations and their hypothetical results.

·       Structure 1 (normal): If + subject + had + past participle, subject + would have + past participle

·       Structure 2 (inversion): Had + subject + past participle, subject + would have + past participle

Here, “Had” is placed at the beginning instead of “If they had...”

Example:

·       If she had studied, she would have passed.

·       Had she studied, she would have passed.

Grammatical Rule in Hindi:

यह वाक्य तीसरी शर्तिया वाक्य संरचना (Third Conditional Sentence) का उदाहरण है।

इसका प्रयोग बीते हुए समय की अवास्तविक स्थिति और उसके संभावित परिणाम को व्यक्त करने के लिए किया जाता है।

·       सामान्य संरचना: If + subject + had + past participle, subject + would have + past participle

·       उलट संरचना (Inversion): Had + subject + past participle, subject + would have + past participle

“If they had...” की जगह “Had they...” लिखकर वाक्य अधिक औपचारिक और छोटा बनाया जाता है।

उदाहरण:

·       अगर उसने पढ़ाई की होती, तो वह पास हो गया होता।

·       Had she studied, she would have passed.

Meanings of the other options:

·       Have → (verb) to own or experience.

·       Example: I have a book. (Not suitable here because the structure demands a conditional, not possession.)

·       Would → (modal verb) used for hypothetical or future-in-the-past situations.

·       Example: I would help you if I could. (Incorrect here because the first clause requires “Had” to show past unreal condition.)

·       Must → (modal verb) used for necessity or certainty.

·       Example: You must study hard. (Incorrect here because the sentence isn’t about necessity or obligation, but a past condition.)