In the following sentence improvement question, choose the option that best completes the sentence "He was a hopeless doctor if ever I saw one" so that it is grammatically and idiomatically correct.

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to the sentence improvement category and tests your knowledge of idiomatic English. The sentence He was a hopeless doctor if ever I saw one contains an idiomatic expression often used to emphasise that someone is a perfect example of a particular type, usually in a negative or critical sense. The phrase if ever I saw one is a standard idiom. However, the exam expects you to recognise the most natural and grammatically acceptable variant in modern English, which is if I ever saw. Understanding such fixed expressions is essential for scoring well in English usage sections.

Given Data / Assumptions:
Here is what the sentence conveys.

• The main clause is He was a hopeless doctor, which is already grammatically correct.
• The underlined or tested phrase is a type of conditional like expression: if ever I saw one.
• The context is past time, indicated by was.
• The speaker wants to emphasise that this doctor is a prime example of a hopeless doctor.
• The improvement, if any, will affect only the highlighted phrase at the end of the sentence.

Concept / Approach:
The expression if ever I saw one or if I ever saw one is used to stress that someone or something fully fits a description. When we examine the options, we look for a version that is idiomatic, that matches the tense of the main clause, and that preserves the original meaning. The main clause uses past tense was, so the subordinate clause should use a compatible past form. The phrase if I ever saw fits this requirement and sounds natural in everyday English. The word one is often understood and can be omitted, especially when the type (doctor) is already mentioned just before it.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, read the full sentence aloud: He was a hopeless doctor, if I ever saw one. This sounds natural and clearly expresses that the speaker strongly believes the doctor to be a classic example of a hopeless doctor. The phrase if I ever saw one implies that in all the people the speaker has observed, this doctor stands out as especially hopeless. The grammar is consistent: both clauses refer to past time. This confirms that option A is the best choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, if I saw, is incomplete because it removes the adverb ever, which adds emphasis. It also does not fully reflect the idiomatic pattern. Option C, if I see, uses present tense and does not match the past tense of was, so there is a tense mismatch and the idiom sounds wrong. Option D, No improvement, assumes that the original wording is the best, but the exam setter wants you to recognise a more standard formulation. Option E, if I was ever seeing, is unidiomatic and grammatically awkward because was ever seeing suggests a continuous action that does not fit this fixed expression. Therefore, option A is the correct improvement.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes rely only on literal grammar rules and overlook idiomatic usage, especially in phrases that occur frequently in spoken English. Another common mistake is to focus on individual words rather than on the expression as a whole. In sentence improvement questions, it is important to consider how native speakers naturally phrase ideas, not just whether a form is technically possible. When you encounter familiar patterns like as far as I know, if I ever saw one, or for all I care, remember that these function as set expressions. Recognising them will help you choose the most idiomatic option quickly in the exam.

Final Answer:
The improved sentence should read: He was a hopeless doctor, if I ever saw one.