Choose the option that best completes the sentence. If her brother ____ here, he would call the police.

Assessment: JAMB UTME - Use of English - 2024 Subject: English Language

Question 1 Report

Choose the option that best completes the sentence. 

If her brother ____ here, he would call the police. 

Answer Details

The correct option to complete the sentence is "were". Let's understand why:


This sentence is an example of a conditional sentence. Specifically, it is a type called the second conditional, which is used to talk about hypothetical situations that are not real or are unlikely to happen in the present or future.


The structure of a second conditional sentence is: If + subject + past simple, subject + would + base verb. Here is the structure applied to the sentence:


  • If her brother were here, he would call the police.

In the conditional clause "If her brother were here," we use the past simple verb "were" which is used for hypothetical situations involving the subject "her brother."


Note: Although "were" typically pairs with plural subjects, in the case of hypothetical or conditional sentences, "were" is also used with singular subjects like "her brother." This use is sometimes referred to as the subjunctive mood.

Download The App On Google Playstore

Everything you need to excel in your exams

Green Bridge CBT Mobile App
Personalized AI Learning Chat Assistant
200,000+ Exam Questions Across IGCSE, JAMB, WAEC & NECO
Over 3,900 Lesson Notes
Offline Support - Learn Anytime, Anywhere
Green Bridge Timetable
Literature Summaries & Potential Questions
Track Your Performance & Progress
In-depth Explanations for Comprehensive Learning