Making Conditional Sentences in English

When constructing conditional sentences in English, it is important to use the correct verb form to convey the intended meaning. In the example sentence "If the weather ____ sunny, we’d go to the beach," the correct answer is "were." However, there may be confusion between the options "was" and "had been." Let's break down the usage of each option:

a. were - This is the correct answer for the sentence. In English, when forming a hypothetical or unreal condition in the present or future, we use the subjunctive mood. The subjunctive form of the verb "to be" is "were" for all persons (I, you, he/she/it, we, they). Therefore, "If the weather were sunny" indicates a hypothetical situation.

b. was - While "was" is the past tense form of the verb "to be," it is not the correct choice for this sentence. In conditional sentences, we use the subjunctive mood to express unreal or hypothetical conditions, even when referring to the present or future.

d. had been - This option is not the correct choice for this sentence. "Had been" is the past perfect form of the verb "to be," which is used to indicate an action that was completed before another past action. In this case, using "had been" would not accurately convey the intended meaning of a hypothetical or unreal condition.

In conclusion, when constructing conditional sentences in English, it is important to use the subjunctive mood for unreal or hypothetical conditions. In this case, the correct answer is "If the weather were sunny, we’d go to the beach." Remember to pay attention to verb forms and tenses to accurately convey the intended meaning in conditional sentences.