After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations of the sentence is given. Choose the…

Analyze the question

The sentence is: "We would never have followed his advice if we had known his reputation."

This is a third conditional (past unreal conditional): would have + past participle in the main clause, and if + past perfect in the condition. It describes something that did not happen in the past.

Explain the concept

A third conditional always implies the opposite of what is stated:

• "if we had known his reputation" means we did not know his reputation.
• "we would never have followed his advice" means we did follow his advice.

Step-by-step solution

1. We did not know his reputation, so the condition was unfulfilled.
2. Because we did not know it, we followed his advice.
3. Had we known it, we would not have followed him.

Now check the options:

• A. Says we knew what people said and refused to obey. This is the opposite of the sentence, so it is wrong.
• B. Says we trusted him but did not need any advice. Nothing in the sentence suggests this, so it is wrong.
• C. Says we followed his advice because we didn't know him (his reputation). This matches our analysis exactly.
• D. Says we trusted him but did not take his advice. We did take it, so it is wrong.

Answer: C

Exam tip

For third conditional sentences ("if + had + past participle... would have + past participle"), flip both parts to find the real meaning:

• Positive becomes negative, and negative becomes positive.
• "Had known" means "did not know"; "would never have followed" means "did follow."