Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the sentence.
[If you asked for directions] at the petrol pump, you would not be lost now.
आपने शायद यह सोचाWhat you probably thoughtवाक्य भूतकालीन क्रिया का है, इसलिए 'would have asked' उपयुक्त लगा। परंतु if-clause (शर्तवाचक उपवाक्य) में 'would have' नहीं आता; 'had asked' आवश्यक है।'would have asked' looked right because the sentence is about a past action. But 'would have' cannot sit in an if-clause; 'had asked' is needed.
आपने शायद यह सोचाWhat you probably thoughtसाधारण वर्तमान शर्त के रूप में 'If you ask' उपयुक्त लगा। परंतु वाक्य छूटी हुई भूतकालीन क्रिया और वर्तमान परिणाम का है, अतः 'had asked' चाहिए।'If you ask' looked right as a simple present condition. But the sentence is about a missed past action with a present result, so 'had asked' is needed.
आपने शायद यह सोचाWhat you probably thought'If you asked' सहज भूतकाल लगा, इसलिए सुधार आवश्यक नहीं लगा। परंतु अवास्तविक past शर्त में 'had asked' चाहिए, जो 'would not be lost now' के साथ संगत है।'If you asked' sounds like a natural past form, so no change seemed needed; but the real past unreal condition needs 'had asked' to pair with 'would not be lost now'.
Answer और ExplanationAnswer and explanation
Answer: (A) If you had asked for directions
यह मिश्रित (Mixed) conditional (शर्तवाचक) है। रास्ता पूछना भूतकाल की बात है और परिणाम (would not be lost now) वर्तमान का है। इसलिए शर्त में had + V3 और परिणाम में would + V1 आएगा। Would have asked कभी if वाले उपवाक्य में प्रयोग नहीं होता।
✓
If you had asked for directions at the petrol pump, you would not be lost now.
सरल अर्थ: यदि तुमने पेट्रोल पंप पर रास्ता पूछा होता, तो तुम अब खोए हुए न होते।
This is a mixed conditional. Asking for directions belongs to the past, and the result (would not be lost now) is in the present. So the condition takes had + V3 and the result takes would + V1. Would have asked can never sit in an if clause.
✓
If you had asked for directions at the petrol pump, you would not be lost now.
बाकी Options उत्तर क्यों नहीं हैंWhy the other options are not the answer
Bवाक्य भूतकालीन क्रिया का है, इसलिए 'would have asked' उपयुक्त लगा। परंतु if-clause (शर्तवाचक उपवाक्य) में 'would have' नहीं आता; 'had asked' आवश्यक है।'would have asked' looked right because the sentence is about a past action. But 'would have' cannot sit in an if-clause; 'had asked' is needed.
Cसाधारण वर्तमान शर्त के रूप में 'If you ask' उपयुक्त लगा। परंतु वाक्य छूटी हुई भूतकालीन क्रिया और वर्तमान परिणाम का है, अतः 'had asked' चाहिए।'If you ask' looked right as a simple present condition. But the sentence is about a missed past action with a present result, so 'had asked' is needed.
D'If you asked' सहज भूतकाल लगा, इसलिए सुधार आवश्यक नहीं लगा। परंतु अवास्तविक past शर्त में 'had asked' चाहिए, जो 'would not be lost now' के साथ संगत है।'If you asked' sounds like a natural past form, so no change seemed needed; but the real past unreal condition needs 'had asked' to pair with 'would not be lost now'.
Source: SSC MTS Tier 1 · 20 Feb 2026 · Shift 1। Solution: Prashant Sir, Ramban।Source: SSC MTS Tier 1 · 20 Feb 2026 · Shift 1. Solution by Prashant Sir, from Ramban.