The students asked her professor

[Freeguy]

The students asked her professor if he would have gone on the space ship ....... earlier.

1. if he knew
2. if he knows
3. he had known
4. had he known

The answer key went for No.4. But I don't see any sign of inversion here.

Thanks

 

[MikeNewYork]

The students asked her professor if he would have gone on the space ship ....... earlier.

1. if he knew
2. if he knows
3. he had known
4. had he known

The answer key went for No.4. But I don't see any sign of inversion here.

Thanks

#4 is correct, but "her" is not. That should be "their". "Had he known" is a shortening of "if he had known".

 

[Freeguy]

Should we use always "had + subject + p.p" (inversion style) in the middle of the sentences in third conditional ones?

 

[Barb_D]

Should we use always "had + subject + p.p" (inversion style) in the middle of the sentences in third conditional ones?

You invert when you omit the "if."

If he were there -- Were he there
If he had known -- Had he known
If she had seen him -- Had she seen him

 

[Boris Tatarenko]

Do you use such a construction in spoken English?

 

[Barb_D]

Sometimes.

 

[alex_genius_20]

The students asked her professor if he would have gone on the space ship had he known earlier.

Hello,
To me, the red part makes no sense. If he had known earlier what?
Would you please clarify it to me? (I mean the red part)

Thanks

 

[Barb_D]

We have no idea. Presumably the context of the dialogue would make that clear.

 

[alex_genius_20]

We have no idea. Presumably the context of the dialogue would make that clear.

Thanks for answering. Do you agree with me that without much context it's a bad or weak test?

 

[Barb_D]

Using the plural "students" with the singular "her" makes it a bad question. The context provides meaning, but doesn't change the grammar.