Question

Choose the most appropriate alternate from the options given below to complete
the following sentence :
If the tired soldier wanted to lie down, he..................the mattress out on the
balcony.
(A) should take (B) shall take
(C) should have taken (D) will have taken

Answer 1

The most appropriate option to be filled in the blank in the sentence is option (C) should have taken

If the tired soldier wanted to lie down, he should have taken the mattress out on the  balcony.

Explanation

It is a type of conditional sentence in which the speaker is expressing his opinion for a past action. Since the conditional clause refers to a Past action, the main clause will also use the Past Tense structure. Only 'should have taken' refers to the Past action. The uniformity of tense is marinated. Any other option would have been grammatically wrong here.