But for the timely intervention of the police, the thief … by the angry mob.

Analyze the question

The sentence begins with "But for the timely intervention of the police..." This phrase means "If the police had not intervened in time." It describes something that did not happen in the past. This is a third conditional (past unreal condition).

Explain the concept

The third conditional structure is:

• If + past perfect, would have + past participle
• "But for + noun" works the same way as "If it had not been for + noun"

So the main clause needs would have been + past participle. The passive voice is needed because the thief is the one being acted upon (the mob does the lynching).

Show the solution

1. "But for the timely intervention of the police" = "If the police had not intervened in time" (past, unreal).
2. The thief was not lynched, because the police stopped it.
3. The main clause must express a past result that did not happen: would have been lynched.

Checking the options:

• A. will be lynched is future, so it is wrong for a past event.
• B. would have been lynched is third conditional, passive. Correct.
• C. would be lynched is a second conditional (present or future unreal), so it does not fit a past event.
• D. will have been lynched is future perfect, which does not express an unreal past result.

Answer: B. would have been lynched

The sentence reads: "But for the timely intervention of the police, the thief would have been lynched by the angry mob."

Tip

When you see "But for..." or "Had it not been for...", think of the third conditional and look for would have + past participle. In JAMB, this pattern appears often, so memorize it.