If you ________ the difficulties she is having, you would be nicer to her.

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Consider the structure of hypothetical conditionals in English. The clause after if typically uses a past form to express a present or future result.
Option 1: 'would know' would place the conditional in a mixed or unreal form that doesn’t align with the pattern used here, making the sentence awkward and ungrammatical in standard usage.
Option 2: 'had known' is a past perfect, which would be appropriate if the result depended on a prior completed condition in the past (the third conditional), but the result clause 'you would be nicer to her' does not express a past perfect consequence, so this pairing is not correct for this sentence's intended meaning.
Option 3: 'knew' is the simple past tense. In a second conditional structure, 'If you knew the difficulties she is having, you would be nicer to her' correctly links a hypothetical past understanding to a present or future consequence, which matches the standard pattern: If + past simple, would + base verb.
Option 4: 'know' is the present tense. Using present in the if-clause would require a different result structure (e.g., 'you would be nicer' would clash with a non-past conditional form), making the sentence inconsistent and incorrect in standard grammar for this context.
In short, the sentence needs the simple past form in the if-clause to express a hypothetical situation that affects the present/future outcome, so the only option that preserves correct tense agreement is the simple past 'knew.'

SCS_0150_096_16 Academic English - Fall 2025 Grammar

If you ________ the difficulties she is having, you would be nicer to her.

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SCS_0150_096_16 Academic English - Fall 2025 Grammar

If you ________ the difficulties she is having, you would be nicer to her.

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

位置84的问题 If students missed the assignment, you should talk to a classmate. CorrectIncorrect

位置18的问题 If you learn all you can in this English course, the next English course will be altogether easier. CorrectIncorrect

位置11的问题 Choose a window seat on the plane if you enjoy the view. CorrectIncorrect

Question at position 15 You won't be thinking clearly the next day if you stay up too late studying. MarkVickyBoth

In the classroom, I can take out my phone IF I am done early with an in-class writing activity, or IF I am doing group work but my peers are not very talkative.

下面的汉译英是否准确？ 汉语原文：你早告诉我, 我就去机场接你了。 英语译文：If you told me early, I would go to the airport to pick you up.

According to Video Lecture Week 9, type in the correct form of the verb "to win" to fill the gap in the sentence below. If I _________ the lottery next Saturday, I would have a big party. Type your one-word answer here:

Ferrets will only do that if they are more than 100 grams. Does the previous sentence indicate that a ferret being more than 100 grams is sufficient for them to do that?

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Making Your Study Simpler

下面的汉译英是否准确？汉语原文：你早告诉我, 我就去机场接你了。英语译文：If you told me early, I would go to the airport to pick you up.