English grammar error-spotting (sequence of tenses in reported conditionals): Identify the erroneous part among A–C in the sentence below (select ‘‘No error.’’ only if all parts are correct). Pay particular attention to backshift after a past reporting verb and the modal choice ‘‘will’’ vs ‘‘would’’: ‘‘He said that he / will mind if / I refused his offer. / No error.’’

Given data

• Part A: ‘‘He said that he’’ (past reporting verb ‘‘said’’)
• Part B: ‘‘will mind if’’
• Part C: ‘‘I refused his offer.’’
• Part D: ‘‘No error.’’

Concept / ApproachIn reported speech with a past reporting verb (‘‘said’’), verbs in subordinate clauses normally backshift to express future-in-the-past. Therefore, ‘‘will’’ in the subordinate clause typically changes to ‘‘would’’ when the perspective is retained in indirect speech.

Step-by-step evaluationStep 1: Identify the reporting verb—‘‘said’’ (past tense) → triggers backshift.Step 2: Replace future modal relative to past viewpoint—‘‘will’’ → ‘‘would’’ (future-in-the-past).Step 3: Check the ‘‘if’’-clause—‘‘if I refused his offer’’ is acceptable as the hypothetical/contingent condition set at that past time.

Verification / Alternative (corrected version)Correct: ‘‘He said that he would mind if I refused his offer.’’(Here, ‘‘would mind’’ correctly reflects the future-in-the-past viewpoint established by ‘‘said’’.)

Common pitfalls

• Leaving ‘‘will’’ unchanged after a past reporting verb in indirect speech.
• Changing ‘‘refused’’ unnecessarily; it already matches the past-time reference of the reported condition.

Final Answerwill mind if