Identify the sentence that correctly employs the subjunctive mood for a hypothetical condition contrary to fact.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. If the laboratory were larger, the university could accommodate ten additional research fellows.
- Step 1: In formal English, the subjunctive mood uses 'were' (rather than 'was') with singular subjects to express unreal, hypothetical, or contrary-to-fact conditions.
- Step 2: 'If the laboratory were larger' correctly indicates that the laboratory is not currently larger.
Answer
If the laboratory were larger, the university could accommodate ten additional research fellows.
Why not the others: 'If the laboratory was larger' uses the informal indicative past rather than standard subjunctive 'were'; 'If the laboratory is larger... had accommodated' displays inconsistent conditional tense pairing; 'If the laboratory will be larger' incorrectly inserts future modal into the condition clause.
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