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

Analyze the question

The sentence "Had it been possible to leave the country then, I would have done so" is a third conditional (past unreal conditional) with inversion. It is the same as: "If it had been possible to leave the country then, I would have left."

Explain the concept

The third conditional talks about an imaginary or unreal past situation:

• Structure: If + past perfect, would have + past participle
• Meaning: the condition was not met, so the result did not happen.
• With inversion: Had + subject + past participle replaces If + subject + had + past participle.

So the sentence tells us two things:

1. It was not possible to leave then.
2. The speaker did not leave, though they would have wanted to.

Test each option

• A. "Nothing will make me leave" is a statement about the future and a firm refusal. The sentence says the speaker would have left, so this is wrong.
• B. "I did leave" contradicts the third conditional, which says the speaker did not leave. Wrong.
• C. "I will definitely leave one day" is a future certainty. The sentence says nothing about the future. Wrong.
• D. "I would have liked to leave the country but I wasn't able to" matches both points: the desire existed, but it was not possible at the time. Correct.

Answer: D

Exam tip: When you see "Had + subject + past participle..., would have + past participle", think "it didn't happen." Rewrite it as an if-sentence and then reverse the meaning: the condition was not true, and the result did not occur.