In the following sentence improvement question, choose the option that best replaces the bracketed part. In case no improvement is needed, select no improvement: She and Dad would (has had loved) Amit.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: have loved

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This sentence improvement question tests your knowledge of correct verb forms after the modal would. The sentence She and Dad would (has had loved) Amit describes a hypothetical or unreal past situation in which both parents would have felt love for Amit. The bracketed phrase has had loved is grammatically incorrect. You must identify the correct auxiliary verb sequence that should follow would in such constructions.


Given Data / Assumptions:

    • Original sentence: She and Dad would (has had loved) Amit.• Options: has loved, have loved, to loved, no improvement.• Subject is compound She and Dad, which is plural.• The modal auxiliary would is already present before the bracketed phrase.


Concept / Approach:
In English, when we express a hypothetical or unreal situation in the past with would, we usually follow it with have plus past participle, for example would have loved, would have gone, would have helped. The correct pattern is would have loved, not would has loved or would has had loved. The auxiliary has belongs to the present perfect and cannot directly follow would. Therefore, the replacement must be have loved, giving would have loved Amit. This matches standard conditional or hypothetical structures.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that would introduces a conditional or hypothetical meaning.Step 2: Recall the standard form would have plus past participle to refer to past time conditions that did not actually occur.Step 3: Apply this pattern to the main verb love, giving would have loved.Step 4: Evaluate option B have loved, which will give the sentence She and Dad would have loved Amit, matching the correct pattern.Step 5: Check has loved. This would produce She and Dad would has loved Amit, which is grammatically wrong because has cannot follow would.Step 6: Check to loved, which is incorrect because to is followed by the base form love, not loved.Step 7: Since the original has had loved is also wrong, no improvement cannot be chosen.


Verification / Alternative check:
Read the correct sentence: She and Dad would have loved Amit. It clearly expresses that if circumstances had allowed, both parents would have felt love for Amit in the past. This structure matches countless similar sentences such as They would have enjoyed the trip or I would have helped you if I had known. Any other combination with has or had after would produces an unnatural or incorrect form.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
has loved cannot follow would because has is already a finite auxiliary verb used in the present perfect, and English does not allow would has in this way. to loved violates the rule that the infinitive form uses the base verb, so it should be to love, not to loved. no improvement would keep the sequence has had loved, which is doubly incorrect, combining two auxiliary verbs has and had in a way that does not match any standard tense or modal pattern here.


Common Pitfalls:
Examinees sometimes overcomplicate verb phrases and may think that adding more auxiliaries like has or had will make the structure sound more advanced. In fact, English verb groups follow clear, limited patterns. After modals such as would, could, and should, the first auxiliary must be have for perfect aspect or be for continuous or passive forms. Remembering these patterns will help you quickly reject incorrect combinations in sentence improvement questions.


Final Answer:
The correct improvement of the bracketed part is have loved, giving the sentence She and Dad would have loved Amit.

More Questions from English

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Join Discussion